Extra parking at Northumberland train station

Most of the new parking bays at Alnmouth Station are now in use, but it is still to be decided whether to introduce time limits on any of the spaces.
County councillors Heather Cairns and Ian Swithenbank by the new parking spaces at Alnmouth Railway Station.
 Picture by Jane ColtmanCounty councillors Heather Cairns and Ian Swithenbank by the new parking spaces at Alnmouth Railway Station.
 Picture by Jane Coltman
County councillors Heather Cairns and Ian Swithenbank by the new parking spaces at Alnmouth Railway Station. Picture by Jane Coltman

As reported by the Gazette last week, work has almost finished on the much-needed extension to the car park on the northbound platform side at Alnmouth Railway Station.

Northumberland County Council has constructed the £370,000 scheme, which aims to alleviate congestion at and around the station and has taken around three months to complete.

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It provides an additional 37 car parking spaces taking the provision on that side of the station from 65 to 102 bays.

Coun Heather Cairns, ward member for the area, said: “I am delighted that this scheme is almost complete. It took a lot of hard work and determination to drive forward all of the arrangements and permissions that were needed. I would also like to thank the local services and legal teams at the council for their persistence, which has resulted in the scheme being completed.

“I look forward to seeing the benefits from this additional parking, which I hope will alleviate some of the issues we have had here in the past.”

Network Rail owns the land where the parking spaces have been constructed and the council has negotiated a 99-year lease so that it can operate the car park.

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A small number of the new bays are still coned off this week as Network Rail is to provide cover for some cabling next to the edge of the car park. Once that work is complete, all spaces will be open and available for station users.

The council is carrying out some work to determine whether it would be beneficial for some of the new and/or existing car-parking spaces to be time-limited.

Coun Ian Swithenbank, cabinet member for local services at Northumberland County Council, said: “This is an important scheme which will provide improved facilities for public transport users, as well as alleviating some of the problems local residents have had in the past.

“I hope that the additional parking makes a positive difference for both rail users and the local community.”

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The work has included an extension to the existing retaining wall and the new spaces have been positioned so that the Aln Valley Railway will be able to access the northbound platform as part of its heritage railway development proposal.