AVST affiliate members My Old Man Said have begun the preparation for a campaign to get the Witton Train Station bridge a long overdue paint job.
The station was opened in 1837 and ever since the birth of Aston Villa football club, due to the station bridge’s close proximity to Villa Park, has always been a big part of the match-day experience for supporters. It’s current ill-state does nothing for the pride of both Villa supporters or the local community at large.
Over the years the club have tried to get Network Rail to undergo the work, with the last serious attempt in 2006 when they even offered to part-pay for the painting, a venture which broke down in the end due to Network Rail’s budgetary constraints at the time.
Improving the condition of the bridge and also the signage would greatly benefit the club, it supporters and also the local community.
From MOMS recent discussions with the club, they informed us that Network Rail indicated maintenance work and a potential repainting ‘could’ happen in 2018/9. This is obviously an unsatisfactory timescale and isn’t actually confirmed.
However, the club have indicated they would be open to covering any reasonable costs of an interim paint job, that Network Rail appear to be open to.
The club have expressed their support of a supporter and community campaign to request Network Rail for this interim solution.
We will have more information shortly of the proposed campaign – including a petition, local media involvement and the lobbying of the local MP – that the AVST will also support.
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