Fleetwood's rail petition has now expanded into Thornton

A petition aimed at restoring the rail link between Fleetwood and Poulton has now expanded into Thornton.
Campaigners have started a petition to reinstate the Fleetwood to Poulton rail link.  Pictured is coun Mary Stirzaker.Campaigners have started a petition to reinstate the Fleetwood to Poulton rail link.  Pictured is coun Mary Stirzaker.
Campaigners have started a petition to reinstate the Fleetwood to Poulton rail link. Pictured is coun Mary Stirzaker.

The paper petition was set up by Fleetwood Town Council member Mary Stirzaker, who says the town should never have lost its rail station in the first place.

Forms for the campaign have been left in a string of shops in Fleetwood, and after three weeks they have gathered almost 500 signatures.

Now the forms have been set up in Thornton as well.

Demolition of Fleetwood Railway Station 1966-69 / historicalDemolition of Fleetwood Railway Station 1966-69 / historical
Demolition of Fleetwood Railway Station 1966-69 / historical
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Coun Stirzaker, who is a member of Fleetwood Back on Track, an action group including town, borough and county councillors and members of Poulton and Wyre Railway Society, said: “We’ve had requests from people in Thornton to expand the petition.

“We are still looking at a target of 10,000 to get the Government to look into it.

“It is ridiculous that a town like ours has no rail link, especially as we’re at the end of a peninsular and the A585 is so badly congested.”

Fleetwood lost its rail station in 1970 (inset), as part of the Government-led Beeching Cuts and at the time it was still a busy fishing port, with many industries.

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Almost 50 years later, campaigners say a town the size of Fleetwood, with around 26,000 inhabitants, desperately needs to be linked up to the rail network.

Petition forms can be signed at Thornton railway station, on Victoria East, and other Thornton collection points are to be added.

Copies of the petition are also available at numerous outlets in the port, including Fleetwood Museum, the ticket office of Fleetwood Town FC, Fleetwood Beach Kiosk, the Ferry Cafe, Fleetwood Kite Shop, the Marine Hall and Andre’s of Highbury .