Andy Street: Full steam ahead for Tettenhall railway station plan
Plans for a new railway station in Tettenhall have been backed by residents.
The station, which would connect the village with Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Telford, was supported by nearly three quarters of respondents in a new survey.
The idea for a new station was floated by South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson earlier this year and has been developed by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Tory parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton South West, Stuart Anderson.
They have pledged to take the campaign forward by securing an official feasibility study and building a business case before bidding for Government funding.
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The survey, which attracted more than 2,000 replies, also saw three quarters of people say they would use the station for shopping and leisure, while almost half of those asked said they would use it at least once a week.
Mr Street said: "The first step was to find out if the idea had community support. We now know that the support in the community is strong enough, so we can take the campaign forward.
"The next stage will be securing an official feasibility study and building a business case.
"This is what has already happened in areas where plans for new stations are more advanced, where planning applications have been lodged, land has been purchased and funds allocated by the Government."
Mr Anderson said: "Public transport, economic opportunities and access to services and all need to be improved for the people of Wolverhampton.
"That’s why we believe it’s time to seriously look at providing a new railway station for Tettenhall, Aldersley and the surrounding communities."
The move follows plans to reopen long-closed stations at Darlaston, Willenhall and Aldridge, as well as in South Birmingham.
"Across the West Midlands real progress is being made on re-opening stations for communities in Birmingham and Walsall – if there, why not here?" Mr Street added.
The Tettenhall station would be the first stop after trains leave Wolverhampton, before travelling on to Bilbrook, Codsall, and on into Shropshire.
The village previously had a station on the Wombourne Branch Line, which opened in 1925 but closed seven years later due to low usage. It is now a tea room.
The survey, which was delivered to thousands of homes across the area by councillors and volunteers, asked which destinations local residents would like to reach by rail from a new station, and how often they would use it.
