"Bringing town and train together: The Community Stations Initiative"

1. "Bringing town and train together: The Community Stations Initiative" Association of Community Rail Partnerships Susan Miles

2. Aspirational

3. Kings Cross

4. Kings Cross

5. Inspirational

6. The not for profit use of empty station premises. At a peppercorn rent. Using a specially formulated tripartite lease which extends beyond the station lease. The Community Stations Initiative

8. Shrewsbury Station

9. Sleaford Station

10. Why are some station premises empty? • Not required for rail service provision • Unused in recent memory • Deterioration of the premises • Previous lettings not succeeded • Not viable for commercial use:- • Footfall • Insufficient Parking • Renovation Costs • Fees

11. Silverdale Station

13. Dalton Station

17. Ellesmere Port

18. Community Stations Initiative offers new use for empty station premises

19. So, what has been done at Sleaford ?

20. Provided a feeling of safety and well being to passengers ACoRP brokered a co-ordinated approach with the District Council, the TOC and their agent for the use of the boarded up station premises as small business units using a Header Lease.

21. Even the ‘smallest’ room in a station can be converted

22. Adding value to the rail services and station facilities.

23. Celebrating Success

24. The Bistro at Etchingham Station Bistro@thestation was opened as the result of a partnership between the Etchingham community, Network Rail, Southeastern and many other sponsors.  The project was instigated as the result of the Etchingham Improvement Plan 2007 – an action plan for the village in which 84% of respondents wanted a place to meet and a village pub.  The derelict station building was identified as the venue and the work began!

25. Changes to Station Leases • New franchises are expected to see changes in Station Leases which, we are told, will take in all the station land and premises for a 99 year period. • At the end of the Franchise period the station lease will roll over to the next Franchisee. • So far we only have been informed of 99 year leases for - • Greater Anglia : Thameside : West Coast

26. Briefly:- • 99 Year Leases are likely to alter the set up of the Community Stations Initiative as we currently work with a Tri-partite Lease to enable a tenancy to extend beyond the current style Station Lease. • ACoRP is busy working on an “Options To Let Scheme” which, if accepted, will enable any premises identified as having no commercial value, to be removed from the Agents’ list and held with an Option for a set period of time this will:- • Give more time to market the premises • Help find a suitable and viable use and users • Give prospective community tenants more time to plan their project • Enable greater funding opportunities to be found. • We are currently working with TOCs with a view of piloting the scheme. • Only too pleased to discuss this if you would like more information.

27. Kings Cross

28. Wemyss Bay Station, Scotland - Designed by James Miller 1903

29. Wemyss Station Not-for-Profit Bookshop

30. Wemyss Bay Station Garden

31. Inspirational Enabling community groups to offer a wide range of social benefits to their community

32. The Community Stations Initiative Acknowledges the help, support and pro bono work of -

33. Thank You ACoRP, The Association of Community Rail Partnerships, is a national federation of over 60 local community rail partnerships spread across the UK. It is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to provide impartial support, advice and guidance to anyone who is involved with rural and local rail services, including community groups, town and parish councils, rural transport partnerships and small businesses. Susan Miles MBE ACoRP Project Officer Tel: 01952 811880 Mob: 07866 295 377 E-mail susan@acorp.uk.com www.acorp.uk.com