Action to save old Shropshire to Staffordshire railway line urged
Rail enthusiasts have written to councillors to ask them to protect the old railway line that once linked Shropshire with Staffordshire.
The Marches Strategic Rail Group has sent the letter to Staffordshire County Council to ask them to prevent any building over the line, which could threaten any hope of ever restoring the route as a railway.
There are currently proposals to build to the west of Stafford, which could cut over part of the old Newport to Stafford line, which has been converted into a cycle route. The letter, signed by chairman Mansel Williams on behalf of the group, said: "The Marches Strategic Rail Group is keen for Staffordshire to consider protecting the route of the Newport to Stafford railway line.
"This route is important to the Marches and Wales area as it could provide an alternative connection to the West Coast main line, reducing pressure on the congested West Midlands area.
"While the reopening of the route is unlikely to come forward in the short-medium term and would need significant investment from central Government, we feel it is important that this corridor and many others are protected, particularly with the continued growth in rail use.
"The group welcomes Staffordshire's investment in upgrading the National Cycle Network route 55 Newport to Stafford cycle route and wishes to see this new route protected and incorporated into the housing development at the Stafford end."
Group member Eric Carter said the correspondence was an important step forward and that more than 70 per cent of respondents to last year's Newport town plan survey said they wanted to see the old line return.
He said: "Once you build across it it is difficult to get it back and it is something that in the future people may want to use.
"I am not saying I know how well we will do but more than 70 per cent of respondents to the Newport town plan want to see the line kept so it is not just me saying this. It is not saying do not build the housing, just try and protect the railway line."
The 14-mile railway line between Stafford and Newport closed in 1966, but Councillor Carter, who represents Newport East, has never abandoned hope that the line could return to the railways.
