Neglected station can drive economic growth

www.bromsgroverail.org.uk

Bromsgrove station is served by two West Midlands Rail routes - the Cross City Service from Lichfield Trent Valley via New Street to Bromsgrove, and the New Street via Worcester Foregate Street to Hereford Service. Between the two, there are 30 stations from which visitors can travel directly to Bromsgrove.

The town and North East Worcestershire has considerable untapped potential for the day and short stay tourism market. It is hoped that the new district council, after the local elections on May 4th, will seize the opportunity to develop a tourism policy which will bring considerable economic benefits to the town centre and surrounding district.

The station, as a gateway to Bromsgrove, and currently an under-utilised asset, can play an important role in implementing such a policy.

There are year-round attractions, walking the Tardebigge flight of locks or the John Corbett Way directly from the station, catching one of the six bus services from the station to the town centre to visit St John’s Church, the newly opened Norton Collection Museum, the Housman Trail and then on to Sanders Park to choose any of the three Royal Hunters Walks.

And this summer there will be several major events either in, or close to, the town centre which will be easily accessible from the station.

From Tuesday, May 30th to Saturday, June 3rd, the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition takes place in the Routh Concert Hall at Bromsgrove School, a short taxi ride from the station.

From Saturday, June 24th to Sunday July 23rd, The Bromsgrove Festival takes place, with events in the town centre or Sanders Park on each of the five Saturdays - In the High Street, Court Leet Day on June 24th, A Day of Street Music and Dance on July 1st, Bromsgrove Pride on July 8th, Bromsgrove Carnival on July 15th and Creative Fest 23 in Sanders Park on July 22nd.

And in the middle weekend of the festival, July 6th to 9th, Bromsgrove Folk Festival takes place at Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings. Its new home means that it will be much more accessible for day visitors arriving at the station and, in addition to the 145 bus service connecting the two places, there will also be a free vintage bus courtesy of Wythall Transport Museum and Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership.

Just some examples of how the railway station can play an important, but so often neglected, role in boosting economic activity, particularly that of our hospitality businesses.

by Nick Taylor memsec@bromsgroverail.org.uk