The railway line that runs through Sutton Park could be reopened to passengers, after West Midlands mayor Andy Street told local business leaders he was ‘committed’ to investigating the idea.
Mr Street (pictured), who heads up the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), was speaking to a breakfast meeting of the Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce at Aston Wood Golf Club.
He told members: “We are busy reopening our old railway lines, in Camphill in the south of the City, and from Walsall to Wolverhampton in the Black Country.
“Among the next series of lines we will be looking at – and I’m committed to this, it will be in my next manifesto – is the Sutton Park Line, which runs from Aldridge through Walmley and round to Castle Bromwich and then into the city.
“The last time the line was used for passengers was in 1965, but we will have a plan for bringing that back into use, which I think is really exciting news for Sutton Coldfield.”
Plans are currently in an advanced state to reopen long-closed railway stations in places like Moseley, Kings Heath, Darlastan and Willenhall, with planning applications tabled, land purchased and designs created. A feasibility study is already underway into reopening the station at Aldridge.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Street said: “There are a lot of things going on to improve public transport and access to services for Sutton Coldfield residents at the moment.
“For instance, money is set to be invested in a plan to redevelop Sutton’s railway station and provide a new bus hub in the town centre, which public consultation has just closed on.
“That’s why I believe it’s time to seriously look at reopening the railway line through the park, with a station in Walmley.
“Across the West Midlands real progress is being made on re-opening stations for communities in Birmingham and Walsall – if there, why not here?”
At the meeting Mr Street also outlined some of the work being done by the WMCA to improve skill levels, build more homes and tackle the issue of homelessness, while stressing his determination to ensure that HS2 goes ahead.
And he told Chamber members: “It’s a real sadness to me that Sutton town centre is going the way it is because, frankly, this is one of the most affluent towns in Britain.
“Andrew Mitchell MP and I did a survey on the town centre, which should have come through everyone’s door, and we got more than 6,500 responses which told us just how much concern there is over the town centre.
“A town centre masterplan process has started, driven by the Town Council and we stand ready to respond to that.
"Whether we have got to buy vacant properties, or if there needs to be a change of use for properties to create more housing, we are ready to respond to that plan to regenerate the town centre. Funding is available.”
