Tuesday 28 August 2012

Opening of Marple Station Footbridge 24th August 2012

Last Friday saw the official opening of the new footbridge at Marple Station attended by representatives of Northern rail, the bridge project team, our MP and local councillors.

The new bridge incorporates a lift that will significantly improve disabled access.  The opportunity was taken during the project to install new station toilets, tidy up the platform layout and repaint the waiting room exterior.  Congratulation to all concerned.


First passengers in the new lift

Andrew Stunell MP & Cllr Craig Wright
prepare for the official opening


Member Paul Rice has
campaigned for the new bridge
















Photos courtesy 
Arthur Procter    

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Civicwatch Survey Results

The results of the 2012 Civicwatch survey show a massive 93% of Marple residents are proud of where they live, while 82% feel part of their community.  However only 35% feel their voices are being listened to in Marple. A total of 386 residents were interviewed in Marple as part of the survey.

These results compare with the national average results of 91% of saying they are proud of where they live, 87% saying they feel part of their community and 39% saying their voice is listened to.


The survey was conducted by the Civic Society as part of a national survey aimed at capturing the civic state of the nation.  The survey was organised by Civic Voice the new national body for the civic movement.


Do you feel proud of where you live?


For more details of the survey see our press release here

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Marple Wharf - Protect our Place Research Project

Civic Voice have announced the appointment of Sarah Spurrier to lead the English Heritage sponsored "Protect our Place" research project over the next 9 months.

Sarah Spurrier to lead the
" Protect our Place"  Research Project
The project will help to understand the different types of current action taking place across England to protect and promote our historic environment.  (http://www.protectourplace.org.uk/)

Marple Civic Society will be part of the research using Marple Wharf as a case study for the project.

Canal and River Trust (CRT), previously British Waterways, is a charitable trust set up to protect our historic canal heritage. We are hoping that CRT will join in partnership with the Marple Community to develop the wharf in recognition of its huge tourism, leisure and community potential and respecting its wonderful history and heritage. Developed in this way, Marple Wharf could become a flagship site for CRT attracting many visitors and volunteers.

Marple Wharf at the junction of the
Peak Forest and Macclesfield canals 



British Waterways planned to develop Marple Wharf with a dense housing development. This was strongly opposed by Marple Civic Society and the Marple Community. We now have an opportunity to join together and think again.








Civic Voice Strategy Develpment Away Day

Alan and Gillian Postill attended the Civic Voice Strategy Development Meeting in Birmingham last Saturday.  It was good to catch up with the trustees and members and be part of the discussions on the future of Civic Voice.

Civic Voice has succeeded in rejuvenating the civic movement over  the past three years and are now in a position to take forward a strong civic movement.
Steve Graham - New Director of Civic Voice

We had the opportunity to meet the new Director of Civic Voice, Steve Graham.
Steve has worked in sustainable development since the 1980s, most recently at Keep Britain Tidy, and as a policy advisor at DEFRA, as well as on initiatives abroad and developing programmes with the UN and WWF.

Steve expressed an interest in visiting us; we look forward to welcoming him to Marple very soon





Civic Voice Strategy Development workshop