Volunteers at two Wirral stations are celebrating after being named winners at a leading rail awards ceremony.
Wallasey Grove Road and Hoylake station picked up top prizes at Cheshire’s Best Kept Stations Awards, which took place at The Grange Theatre, in Nantwich, at the end of last month, after being put forward by Merseyrail.
The awards aim to encourage, promote and recognise the work of station adoption schemes and community groups in caring for local stations throughout Cheshire and this was the first year that Wirral has been included in the competition.
The Awards were presented before 170 guests by Jools Townsend, the chief executive of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP), the membership body for around 60 community rail partnerships and over 1,000 station adoption groups across the UK.
They were also attended by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, the Lord Mayor of Chester, the Deputy Mayor of Wirral and 15 other Mayors.
Wallasey Grove Road won the coveted Best Newcomer title for its beautifully presented gardens whilst Hoylake picked up the first ever Wirral Award for its excellent plantation scheme which includes herbs that passengers can pick and take away.
Sally Ralston, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Merseyrail, said: “We are incredibly proud of all our volunteers at Wallasey Grove and Hoylake station who have worked tirelessly to brighten up our stations and create much loved and cared for gardens that everyone can enjoy.
“Like all our adoption schemes, they are run by local people with community at the heart of them they and they thoroughly deserve the recognition they received on the night for their outstanding contributions.
“We hope their award success will encourage other residents and members of the community across the Merseyrail network, who are interested in getting involved with these schemes, to come forward and contact my team as these projects can help to make a real difference.”
Cllr Geoffrey Watt, Deputy Mayor of Wirral, who attended the awards, said: “I am delighted with the Cheshire Best Kept stations awards to our stations.
“I am particularly happy for all the people of Wallasey and Hoylake, for the volunteers who work at the stations, and for Merseyrail and Merseytravel who give us so much support.”
The full list of winners can be found at www.bestkeptstations.org.uk
