News Release

16th January 2005

RAIL MEETING AT ARMITAGE

At a packed Armitage Village Hall on Saturday morning (15th January), around 200 people from Armitage, Handsacre, Fisherwick, and parts of Lichfield heard Michael Fabricant introduce representatives from Network Rail, Staffordshire County Council Highways, Lichfield District Council Environmental Health, and County Councillor Frank Lewis and parish councillors who talked about the three year programme of work that will be undertaken to upgrade the west coast main rail line.

"Concerns involved the safety of children with heavy lorries being diverted onto lesser used roads, where stores of ballast, rails, sleepers would be kept, noise from late night working, and so on." says Michael Fabricant. "One villager, where work has already started, complained of 2am football games between railway workers waking them up at night.

"Keith Riley, Network Rail's project director said that in future there would be fewer sub-contractors so that they will have far greater control over the work. Also, the operation will be run from a site, the old MAFF buildings, opposite the Lichfield Trent Valley Railway station and he personally will be moving up to Lichfield from London to control the project. There will be regular meetings with the public to keep everyone informed.

"Two important phone numbers were given out for when the work begins and people likely to be affected by the work should make note of them now" Michael adds. "Network Rail have a 'hotline' for complaints and enquires in Birmingham and it will be 0845 711 41 41. In addition, Staffordshire County Highways have a number: 0800 23 23 23. They can enforce Network Rail if vehicles use short cuts they should not be using.

"Finally, if all else fails," Michael told the meeting "write to me at the House of Commons or email me through the webform on my website, and I will bang heads together if needs be."