WAVENEY MP Bob Blizzard is to take his campaign to smarten up local stations to the House of Commons next week with a crunch meeting with Network Rail officials.

WAVENEY MP Bob Blizzard is to take his campaign to smarten up local stations to the House of Commons next week with a crunch meeting with Network Rail officials.

This follows Bob presenting colour pictures showing the sad state of Lowestoft and Beccles stations to NR Chief Executive Ian Coucher at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton last month.

However, the meeting will now focus mainly on Lowestoft station as workmen have today begun clearing the forest of weeds that have overgrown Beccles station for years.

This follows Mr Blizzard's success in getting Network Rail to clear similar weeds from Oulton Broad south station in the summer.

“Both these stations have been a shocking advert for the Waveney area and presented an appalling spectacle to visitors arriving by train,” he said. “I'm pleased that NR is now taking its responsibilities more seriously, but the glassless 'shelter' that offers no shelter at Beccles station still needs to be repaired.

“However, the Lowestoft problem remains and I will be insisting that something is now done to improve the external facade of the station. It looks so forlorn and really is an unacceptable spectacle for visitors and locals to behold. It's a total disgrace. If the building is indeed listed then there are legal requirements regarding upkeep. I want to see NR taking some pride in their stations just as local people take pride in their towns.”