Mayor Cllr Dilbagh S. Parmar has opened the Slough Station Northern Forecourt following the completion of the Public Realm improvement work.
The project, achieved through the partnership working of Thames Valley, Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, includes provision of parking spaces together with accessible parking, as well as a turning area to the east.
In front of the station there is also a shared space area aimed to enhance the pedestrian experience. The works also comprise new planting and landscaping, street lighting, a new retaining wall along Railway Terrace, and revisions to the existing surface water drainage network.
Mayor Cllr Dilbagh S. Parmar, said: “It’s a pleasure to be here to open the renovations of the Northern Forecourt, the space is a fantastic welcome to Slough for all those that commute here, and residents alike.”
Savio DeCruz, associate director place operations, Slough Borough Council, said: “I would like to thank all of you for attending this launch of the new Station Forecourt and especially the Mayor and Mayoress. Thanks also to GWR and Network Rail for supporting the team in delivering the project, and a special thank you to Vaishali Shah, our principal engineer, for project managing the scheme in difficult circumstances.
“I started developing the scheme designs in 2012 following completion of the Southern Forecourt and so it has been 10 years in its making. The forecourt has been transformed and this could not have been made possible if the Local Enterprise Partnership and Department for Transport had not funded the project. This is a very befitting scheme to celebrate the Elizabeth Line now being in full operation and am sure the area will be well used and welcomed by all who visit Slough.”
Tom Pierpoint, GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, said: “GWR is delighted to be working with Slough Borough Council and it is fantastic to see the station forecourt scheme come to fruition. Improving access to stations and making it easy and simple to use rail services supports the switch to sustainable travel.
“We are committed to partnership working and to working towards net-zero carbon emissions. It is great to see that at work here in Slough, particularly given that the new timetable from May 21st will see faster GWR services to London and a frequency increase on the Elizabeth line.”