A group which has befriended a former Grade II-listed railway station approaching its 150th anniversary is concerned at council moves to consider the future of the now-vacant stationmaster’s house.
The Friends of Hadlow Road Station was created in 2014 in Willaston to improve the village’s Victorian station.
The station was a stop on the single-track Hooton to West Kirby branch of the Birkenhead Railway which opened a branch line from Hooton to Parkgate in 1866 which included the station. The line along to West Kirby was completed 20 years later.
The station closed for passengers in 1956 with the track continuing in use for freight and driver training until 1962. The lines were lifted two years later with the route becoming part of the Wirral Country Park in the early 1970s, the first of its kind in Britain.
All of the station apart from the westbound platform is preserved to give an authentic 1950s look with a short section of relaid track.
Volunteers have since restored the distinctive wooden signal box, which had long been out of bounds and carried out clearing and planting among other activities.
But concerns have arisen following the borough council’s ranger service vacating the house shortly before Christmas.
'We would be willing to consider taking a long lease on the building'
Chris Hampshire, chairman of the Friends, explained: “Cheshire West and Chester Council own the building and are currently deciding what to do with this Station Master’s House and outbuildings.
“The Friends of Hadlow Road Station group are concerned that it may be sold for commercial use. However we have suggested to the council that we would be willing to consider taking a long lease on the building.
“Alternatively, the council may wish to transfer the asset to the Friends at a token value of £1 as a community asset.
“In either case we do need a strong executive team to negotiate with the council on the contractual terms. Also this executive team would need to formulate a viable business plan that can be delivered by the volunteers that we already have.”
Community resource
He adds that anyone able to assist with the provision of expertise to help over the next three to four months could let him or any other member of the Friends team know.
“Without this executive team the transfer by the council to the Friends group is not likely to happen and may then lead the council to finding alternative commercial uses for Hadlow Road Station. Time is not on our side so please do step forward and let us know if you are willing and able to assist in any way to keep Hadlow Road Station within Willaston as a community resource,” added Chris.
The borough’s property chief Cllr David Armstrong (Lab) said: “The Station Master’s House at Hadlow Road Station is currently vacant following changes within the council’s Place Operations service which until recently used it as an office base.
“The council’s officer asset management group is responsible for exploring potential future uses for the facility and a meeting is due to take place to begin this process.
“It is important to note that the public toilets, signal box, platform, old railway track/footpath and car park at the station remain in the ownership of Place Operations and are therefore unaffected.”
Anyone who would like to offer assistance to the Friends’ appeal in relation to the future of Hadlow Road Station can call Chris on 0151 327 4511.
