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On track for a fun Christmas

Tom Rowley
13/12/2006

RAIL travellers in Glossop could be forgiven for doing a double-take as they come and go at the local station over the festive period.

For the first time Christmas decorations adorn the premises thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the Station, a group which was only formed earlier this year.

A Christmas tree, window boxes full of flowers, garlands, holly, and arrangements of fruit such as tangerines and oranges have given the Norfolk Street station a distinctly festive air. Neil Williams, of the friends' group, said: "Our members put up the decorations on Friday night and people were stopping and looking and commenting how nice it all looked."

He added that it was also another boost for the station to hear that the British Transport Police has launched a neighbourhood policing team for the Glossop and Hadfield to Manchester Piccadilly line, to combat crime around the station and make passengers feel safer.

In a ceremony on Saturday, Paul Salveson, head of community and regional strategy at Northern Rail, switched on the Christmas tree lights and was given a tour of the station to view the improvements.

Amanda Allen, of phone company O2, presented a cheque to the friends for £310 to cover the cost of painting the station railings red and green.