Geoff Hoon (centre) with Dennis Fancett (left) and MP Denis Murphy.
Photo: NCJ Media / Journallive
SENRUG Chairman Dennis Fancett was asked to give a presentation on the group’s campaign to re-open the Ashington Blyth & Tyne Line to Rail Minister Geoff Hoon, at a meeting convened by Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy, held at Woodhorn
Prior to the meeting Denis Murphy MP and Dennis Fancett took Geoff Hoon on a short tour of the line, calling at Bedlington Station and Ashington. The meeting venue was also significant since the line runs along the edge of the Woodhorn site, and SENRUG believes a station should be created at Woodhorn as well to bring passengers in to Northumberland.
Also present at the meeting were representatives from One North East, Association of North East Councils, Jeff Reed, leader of the new Northumberland Unitary Authority, and Wansbeck Council. In addition to the presentation from SENRUG, Susan Smith from Wansbeck Council spoke briefly on the needs of the Wansbeck area that would be addressed by re-opening the line.
The meeting presented another opportunity for SENRUG to profile its campaign, following 2 earlier meetings with former Rail Minister Tom Harris, one at Westminster and one in Wansbeck. SENRUG are grateful to MP Denis Murphy for arranging these opportunities.
For full details of SENRUG’s campaign to re-open the line, click here.
For reports of SENRUG’s highly successful train charter round the line, in June 2008, click here.
Read what the Newspapers had to say about the Geoff Hoon meeting [these links will take you out of SENRUG’s website]
http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/latest/Hoon-views-Ashington-Blyth-and.5117342.jp
