Cleanup needs cameras to get on track

AN UNTIDY railway station has been cleanedup but still lacks vital CCTV coverage.

The county council has been asking for these improvements at Neston Station.

And while the site has now been tidied, security cameras which were requested by the council three years ago have not yet been installed.

In a report, county principal projects officer Neil Roberts said: 'Neston Station is owned by Network Rail.

'The maintenance and cleaning rests with the train operator serving the station which, at the time, was First North Western (FNW).

'Earlier this year, the station looked very untidy, suffering from occasional vandalism.

'There was also a problem of litter dropped at platform level, and a pedestrian subway linking platforms resembled a rubbish tip.'

The county wrote to FNW this summer, demanding action.

And when councillors inspected the Raby Road station in August and September, it was found to have greatly improved.

Mr Roberts said: 'Rubbish had been removed and the subway cleaned.'

On September 28, the operation of train services between Wrexham and Bidston, taking in Neston, was transferred to the Wales & Border franchise.

A site visit by the county on October 30 confirmed the station had not only stayed clean but the subway was being re-painted.

Neston Station was rebuilt back in 2000, with funding from the county, after being vandalised.

To combat the damage, the council said CCTV should be installed, linked to the existing Neston town centre camera system.

Back then, Railtrack agreed to fund the installation of the cameras, while it would be maintained by FNW.

Mr Roberts said: 'The poles for the CCTV to go on have been in place for some time, but the cameras have never been installed. Two issues have conspired to prevent this.

Firstly, Railtrack had a funding crisis while going into Railway Administration.

'Secondly, FNW wouldn't commit themselves to fund and maintain the system as they knew their tenancy of the station would come to an end with the transfer of the station to Wales & Borders.

'To further complicate matters, Wales & Borders was later re-tendered by the Strategic Rail Authority.

'This franchise has now been re-let and, from December 7, has been operated by Arriva Trains Wales for a 15-year-term.'

The county has now contacted Arriva and Network Rail, saying the CCTV issue is still outstanding, and they all need to work together to resolve the matter. It is awaiting their responses.