Parking improvements for town’s rail travellers on the agenda

Dec 31 2008 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

PLANS to significantly improve car parking provision at a Northumberland railway station go before local councillors next month.

Network Rail wants to create a new, 92-space car park at Morpeth Station, together with associated lighting and ticket machines.

The project would increase the total number of parking spaces at the East Coast main line station to 165 – and aims to meet a growing demand as well as tackle problems of indiscriminate parking in the area.

It will also mean the introduction of parking charges at the station – expected to be between £3 and £4 per day – to help recoup the investment involved.

Morpeth Town Council has called for the charges to be reclaimable, or part reclaimable, by train travellers as an incentive to encourage rail journeys.

Network Rail says the existing car park is often at capacity and demand is projected to grow.

“The many vehicles parked in a haphazard and random fashion on kerbs and verges along Coopies Lane also represents a traffic hazard which requires elimination,’’ it adds. In addition, it is envisaged better parking provision will help attract more people to travel by rail rather than making long car journeys.

The new facility would be created on a plot of derelict land immediately to the south-east of the existing car park.

A report to Castle Morpeth Council’s development services committee next month says the main issue to be examined in determining the application is the impact of the car park on nearby residents. This includes noise from car doors shutting, car alarms and vehicle engines, as well as light pollution from car headlights and the lighting scheme for the car park.

“Appropriate boundary treatment will be key and amendments to the layout of the car park may need to be made,’’ the report adds.