Netherfield Railway Station should move closer to its major retail park, Gedling Borough Council has said.
Councillor John Clarke, leader of the Labour-run authority, wants to see the station move near to the soon-to-be-opened Sainsbury’s off the A612 Colwick Loop Road.
The store is expected to open this autumn and will be close to Victoria Retail Park.
Councillor Clarke said a station closer to the site would be beneficial to shoppers.
Netherfield Station is among the quietest stations in Nottinghamshire, with around 8,292 entries and 9,150 exits a year.
Other quieter stations include Rolleston, Thurgarton and Bleasby in Newark and Sherwood and Elton and Orston in Rushcliffe.
The retail park is currently a 16-minute walk from Netherfield Train Station, which is home to shops including Argos, B&M, B&Q, Halfords, M&S Food Hall, Next, TK Maxx, and McDonald’s.
Councillor Clarke said the railway line passes close to where the new Sainsbury’s will be built and therefore a move would be possible.
He said: “We want to move the railway station nearer to Sainsbury’s nearer to the retail park which would make sense. It is that connectivity for people.
“We can’t drive around in cars forever. The Victoria Retail Park has got B&Q, Marks and Spencer, Next and we have now got a big Sainsbury’s.
“I think it is one of the best retail parks we have got in Nottinghamshire.
“It is difficult to get out of the car park with hundreds of cars and it would relieve the car pressure in there.”
He said the move would also benefit independent businesses in Netherfield as people travelling by train would spend longer in the town. The council is preparing to open discussions with rail network providers, he added.
The council is currently waiting to see if it wins a £20m bid to Government to improve the shopping experience in Netherfield. The bid also includes plans for Carlton and Arnold, but does not include the railway station move.
So how about improving the shops in netherfield. It used to be a.lovely place to shop. We are the forgotten areas. Burton road. Lost its flowers now it’s just a place for people to take dogs to do there business It is a disgrace to be the poor members ofFering borough we get nothing
The reason Netherfield station is so poorly used is purely down to the complete lack of trains. It is infuriating having to pass through the station on the way from Grantham. Why on earth can’t it have a proper service?
As David points out, stations are only used if there is a regular service that is convenient for passengers. There was/is talk of putting the tram to the east of Nottingham. Why not simply increase the amount of trains stopping at Netherfield and Carlton stations instead?