Gloucestershire County Council is calling for urgent discussions following news that Network Rail will not allow plans for additional parking to go ahead.
With car parking in high demand at Lydney train station, physician last year the county council teamed up with the Forest of Dean District Council, stuff Lydney Town Council and Arriva Trains Wales to see how more parking could be created.
In May 2014 Network Rail offered to lease some land next to the existing car park to create additional parking. The county council identified money to bring the land up to the appropriate standard for car parking, but Network Rail has now pulled out of the deal.
Lydney is the only Forest town with a mainline railway station, which contributes significantly to the accessibility of the town. With new homes and employment land set for the town over the next decade*, providing additional parking will be crucial in encouraging people to use services which have been increased by Arriva Trains Wales and Cross Country Trains in recent years.
Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member responsible for transport said, “It’s been clear for some time that demand for car parking at Lydney Station is far greater than what is currently available. So over the last year we’ve worked hard with the Forest of Dean District Council and Lydney Town Council on plans to address the problem.
“We were about to sign a deal with Network Rail to secure the expansion of Lydney train station car park by extending onto nearby land. The three local councils believe this would have encouraged greater use of the train service at Lydney and in turn support the local economy.
“For Network Rail to pull the plug on such an important scheme after so much effort is a real slap in the face for Foresters. I’m absolutely furious about it and I’ll be taking this up with Network Rail at the highest level.”
Alan Preest, local county councillor for Lydney said, “There’s a clear need for further parking in this location not only because of the station but also because of the wider regeneration in the area, such as improved links to the harbour, the proposed cycle link to the town centre and tourist destinations such as the Dean Heritage Railway. If additional parking is not provided, it will have a detrimental effect on these projects which are trying to bring wider economic benefits to the area.”
Currently the train station car park has 85 spaces available, and the additional car park would have created an estimated further 70 spaces.
The county council has requested a meeting with Network Rail to further discuss the matter, and its economic implications.