Published on: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Last updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Greater Anglia has submitted a bid for funding to help improve access to the Cambridge-bound platform at Wymondham station.
The company put in a proposal for Access for All funding in October under a new Government funding programme for schemes to improve station accessibility arrangements.
It’s part of a coordinated, partnership approach with Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk District Council to try to improve access to the westbound platform at the station.
Norfolk County Council is also seeking funding under its Transforming Cities bid, whilst South Norfolk District Council is seeking funding from other sources.
It is hoped that by taking forward three separate initiatives, enough funding can collectively be secured to implement a scheme to create better access at the station.
The project still requires support from Network Rail and the company owning the adjoining land, but both parties have previously pledged their commitment and assistance in making it happen - with Network Rail agreeing to shorten its siding to facilitate the scheme if funding has been secured.
With new trains already operating on many Greater Anglia services on the line, the start of the direct Norwich to Stansted Airport service in December and all of Greater Anglia’s services on the line due to be switched over to new train operation within the next few months, it is expected that the route will continue to see sustained increases in passenger numbers.
A project group involving all partners involved and George Freeman in his role as MP for the area has been working together for some time to try and make progress.
Now a number of opportunities have been identified, leading to a coordinated effort involving parallel funding bids to try and bring the project to fruition.
It may be a few months before the outcomes of the bids are known, but all parties involved are committed to making the initiative happen as soon as possible, by pursuing all practical funding avenues.
Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs at Greater Anglia said: “Combined with the extra housing planned locally and the impressive new accessibility characteristics of the new trains, there is an even greater impetus from Greater Anglia, Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk District Council, supported by Network Rail, to try and secure the funding needed to tackle the issue.
“We are committed to improving access at Wymondham station as soon as possible.
“Our Access for All bid and collaborative approach with Norfolk County Council and South Norfolk District Council is deliberately designed to maximise the chances of securing the necessary funding as quickly as we can."