DEDICATED volunteers have been recognised for their efforts in maintaining and improving their community’s railway station.

An impressive six awards were handed out to stations around Knutsford and Wilmslow in this year’s Cheshire Best Kept Stations awards – with success in Chelford, Goostrey, Handforth, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford and Plumley.

Now in its 18th year, the event moved online for 2020 due to the pandemic, with a 30-minute video launched on YouTube last week.

Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said the awards recognise ‘the huge amount of work, passion and enthusiasm’ put in by volunteers as she introduced the video.

She added: “It is much more than brightening up stations – it is about bringing people together, it is about health and wellbeing, it is about social inclusion and community cohesion.

“It is about bringing stations into the heart of their community and creating a sense of familiarity, positivity and ownership towards the railway.

“All of this is doubly important at the moment as we come through this great challenge we are facing through the pandemic as we are seeking to help our communities and railway to recover and build back better.”

Knutsford Guardian:

Each award recognised the efforts of friends groups and village volunteers in improving their local station.

Chelford’s award recognised volunteers’ consistently high standards of planting for more than 13 years – providing a kaleidoscope of colours on the platforms, station front and access paths.

Goostrey’s award recognised the restoration of the station’s Victorian modular ticket office, which is one of the last in the country, and the efforts of the friends group in improving the environment.

Friends of Handforth Station were recognised on succeeding in their battle for step-free access after 20 years of campaigning, with £2.7 million set to be spent on two lifts from the booking office to the platforms.

Holmes Chapel volunteers – who have worked with organisations including the Cedars Residential Care Home, Busy Bees Nursery School, and the Brownies – were praised for making the station a pleasing environment.

Knutsford’s friends group was recognised for looking after the planters and beds, including the attractive station approach, while Plumley’s award recognised the colourful garden and new waiting shelter seat.

Mark Barker, chairman of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, said: “Despite all the changes that we have all had to make this year, some things have not changed.

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“The work that station friends and community groups do to make their stations welcoming gateways is brilliant.

“Yes, their work was disrupted, but they carried on doing what they could – keeping in touch with each other and their communities, and planning for the future.”

Visit bestkeptstations.org.uk