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Eco Station may get green light

Posted: 02/04/2007

A £2.5million project to create the country's most environmentally friendly train station has been unveiled. The scheme would see Accrington station knocked down and rebuilt using state-of-the-art "green" materials. The building would feature an electricity-generating wind turbine and would re-use rainwater in toilets and sinks.

The so-called "eco-station" would also use solar panels on the roof to heat water. Lancashire County Council has drawn up the plans for the site off Blackburn Road and Eagle Street. A ticket office and waiting room will be rebuilt on the other side of the line from the current station, in the west-bound Blackburn direction, making it easier to access Accrington town centre.

The building mirrors a development at Liverpool South Parkway which last year won the Innovation Award at Network Rail's annual Environment Awards. Richard Watts, rail project manager for LCC, said Accrington station could be even more environmentally friendly.

He said: "It is a very exciting project. We want Accrington to be a flagship of how to build in a green way. "It will be constructed using the best environmental principles available and we hope it will be even more innovative than Liverpool South Parkway." He said that in addition to the green features materials used in the construction would be locally and naturally produced and have a low carbon footprint.

The changes at the site would also include improvements to pedestrian access and the car park. The current footbridge over the rail line, which is in poor condition, will be rebuilt to allow people coming from the Blackburn direction to head into Accrington town centre quickly and easily. Mr Watts added: "It is good news for Accrington. The existing station is a fairly inadequate facility for a town of the size of Accrington."

He said the building will cost about £400,000 but additional costs linked to creating a new footbridge and car park will see the price rise to more than £2million. The car park will be reduced from 58 to 50 spaces but will include improved lighting, disabled parking and ramp access.

If the plans are approved by Hyndburn Council then building work could begin next year. Work would take about 18 months.

David Watkinson / This Is Lancashire  
 

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