Manea railway station car remains closed 14 months after it was due to open

Fourteen months ago a much-needed railway station car park was on track to open within weeks.

However, the promise of an opening in April 2022 for the 100 space car park at Manea proved to be overly optimistic.

Because, despite all the hype, and the fact work actually began on the facility in September 2022 – the gates of the car park remain well and truly closed.

Perplexed villagers have been left asking why, after so many promises that it would be up and running long since, it is still shut in June 2023.

The new facilities were promoted as just one of many regeneration schemes being delivered across Fenland as part of Fenland District Council’s Railway Station Masterplans project, which is funded by £9.5million from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, led by Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, and with support from station operator Greater Anglia.

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But while March now has a sparkly new waiting room and ticket hall, and Whittlesey has also seen improvements, Manea is still waiting.

In March last year Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for transport, heritage and culture, Councillor Chris Seaton said: “Thanks to the hard work and persistence of our contractors, and all of those involved with the project, this valuable new asset for Manea is now beginning to take shape.

““The arrival of the car park marks an exciting time for the local community as it will not just make rail a more viable option for Manea residents, it will also bring with it tourism and economic benefits, whilst delivering sustainable transport options right to our doorstep.”

The project which not includes more than 100 parking spaces, including disabled bays, has a range of additional benefits such as a new cycle shelter, CCTV coverage and low energy lighting.

But despite all of that, those facilities remain closed to local rail users.

The car park comes under the management of Fenland District Council, who wil be responsible for its maintenance once it evenually opens.

A spokesperson for the council said it is now hoped the car park will be open by the end of August – but she said: “it is reliant on the procurement of necessary materials by the contractors.”

However, just what the hold up has been and why it has taken well over a year for the contractors to secure these “materials” is unclear, but there was certainly no sign of any work at the car park facility on Friday.

A spokesperson for Fenland Council said: “We understand and share residents’ disappointment that Manea Station car park is not yet ready to open, and are working with contractors to ensure that the final materials needed to make the site secure are installed as soon as possible. We’re hopeful that it will be ready to open in August, subject to the contractor’s procurement of the final materials.”