Environmental work complete at Westcliff station

Councillor Murray Foster, Executive Councillor for Future Southend, joined Leila Frances, Route Director for c2c, at Westcliff station to celebrate a partnership that has resulted in a transformation of the approaches to both sides of the station approach.

In 2004 c2c and Southend Borough Council formed a partnership to launch a £500,000 programme of improvements at Westcliff station. This has resulted in a new station forecourt, resurfaced with bus stop and shelter; steps from the pavement at street level to the car park area. On the north side of the station there are improved lighting and new parking bays, and the road has been re-profiled into a one way system. The front of the station has been redecorated, and new cctv cameras covering both entrances to the station and linked to the Town Centre Monitoring Centre, provide a greater degree of personal security for people using the station.

Leila Frances, c2c's Route Director, acknowledged the importance of the environment in attracting people to the railway.

C2c is able to carry large numbers of people to their destinations up and down the line, with minimal impact on the environment, she said. In terms of trains we have one of the most modern fleets in the country.

C2c is the best performing Train Operating Company in the South East, and is second in the league table for the country as a whole. Our all day punctuality currently stands at 94.6% and our peak punctuality at 97.6%

But if people are to use the station the environment needs to be welcoming. While many people are able to walk to the station, that is not possible for everyone and not everyone has access to a car. Transport integration is therefore very important. And our event today is all about the environment and integration, and it gives me the opportunity to express c2c's gratitude to Southend Borough Council for their investment, in terms of funding and time, in this joint project.

Councillor Murray Foster, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Future Southend, says: The Council is delighted to have been able to support this project which will make a real difference to the people who use this facility. Having good quality integrated transport links is vitally important to the both the economic and environmental future of Southend." .