HANDFORTH IS CHESHIRE'S BEST KEPT STATION
19th January 2010
 Handforth Railway Station has been named the Best Railway Station in Cheshire at the recent Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening.
Held at the Salt Museum, Northwich, the evening was attended by over 90 guests from the community including the Sheriff of Chester, visiting Mayors, local community groups and staff representing the rail industry.
The awards were presented by Helen Carey OBE DL, who is Chairman of Cheshire Landscape Trust and Vice Chair of Keep Britain Tidy.
John Hulme, Organiser of Cheshire Best Stations, on announcing the awards said "Cheshire is unique as we are the only county in England that has a Best Kept Station Competition. These accolades go to the railway staff who work on our stations and those community groups that give their time freely to make our stations more hospitable, tidy and secure. There are now 30 stations nominated for the awards. This, alone, demonstrates the work that is going on in the Community".
Congratulations should go to the Friends of Handforth Station who have been busy at the station since 1998. Then it was described in the local papers as an ugly mess. Now it has a Rotary Sculpture Garden, A Platform for Art, local school and local children have enjoyed poetry reading on the station with Cheshire Poet Laureate W.Terry Fox. The station has plants, planters, community notice boards, even their own flag poles and flags".
Helsby Railway was named the Best Kept Station in Cheshire West and Chester with Frodsham Railway Station winning an award for Best Kept Gardens. Both railway stations are tended by the North Cheshire Rail Users Group. Helsby Railway Station has won an award every year since the Competition was re-launched, being the first winner in 2003.
Cllr Hilarie McNae, Sheriff of Chester, said "After talking to the guests this evening, I applaud all the work that goes on at our railway stations in Cheshire. Whether a station has won an award or not, all the community groups deserve to be congratulated. There is so much pride and local community involvement at our local stations in Cheshire".
Knutsford Railway Station was named the Best Kept Station in Cheshire East where the local High School students support the station. They grow plants at the school which they then plant at the Station and student artists from the school have their own artwork displayed on the station platform.
Cllr George Walton, from Cheshire East and a Governor at the Knutsford High School said "The contribution the High School students make at Knutsford Railway Station makes a real difference. This is particularly important as Knutsford is the "home" of Tatton Park and the RHS Show in July. Our visitors now get a first class welcome to the town. I would like to thank all those involved from the school".
On the same line Chester, Greenbank and Cuddington railway stations also won awards.
Chester Railway Station took the Roberts Bakery Special Award for the Most Improved station and Cuddington on the Mid Cheshire Line being voted the Tidiest Station in Cheshire.
Greenbank Railway Station won the Cheshire Youth Challenge Award supported by Cheshire Crimebeat, the High Sheriff of Cheshire's Charity. At Greenbank, the local church, which is based at the station, is working to improve the station.
Cllr Richard Short, Cheshire West and Chester's Culture and Recreation Portfolio Holder, who attended the event, said "This is good news all round for Cheshire. Our stations are our gateways for those visiting Cheshire. Our railway stations reflect our community pride and provide those visiting Cheshire with the welcome they deserve".
Chelford Railway Station, where village volunteers tend the gardens, won the ACoRP Award which is supported by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. Chelford were Cheshire's Best Kept Station in 2008.
Two Virgin Train companies received accolades with Runcorn Railway Station, being named Cheshire's Best Staffed Station and Crewe Railway Station winning an award for Customer Care.
Keith Millard, Station Manager for Virgin Trains at Runcorn, said "This fantastic award recognises the dedication of the station team who really care for their customers, and the investment by Virgin Trains in high quality facilities".
Sam Dixon, Station Manager for Virgin Trains at Crewe, said "This is a great award for this important gateway station, recognising the hard work and excellent customer service offered by all the team".
One stop down from Crewe, Nantwich Railway Station won the Cheshire Community Award where Nantwich in Bloom look after the local railway station.
To celebrate the relationship with Cheshire's Gardens of Distinction a special award was made for the Best Garden Railway Station in Cheshire. This went to Allostock Junction at Hill's Garden Centre near Knutsford.
Nominations are now open for Cheshire Best Kept Stations 2010 by using Contact Us on this website
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