The Government’s £20 million New Stations Fund was announced this week.

Dr Richard Knowles says “Oldham Council should be making a bid to the Government’s New Stations Fund for Diggle Station to reopen. It is an official Oldham Council priority to reopen Diggle Station so there must be no delay. Councillor Garth Harkness (Saddleworth North) has campaigned strongly for many years for a new Diggle Station.”

Diggle and Saddleworth Stations were closed in 1968 as part of the Beeching cuts leaving Greenfield as the only station in Saddleworth. The site of Diggle Station off Sam Road is still available to reuse, whereas Saddleworth Station building was sold as a private house.

Dr Knowles added “Since 1968 there has been a lot of house building in Diggle and the population has nearly doubled. A new station in Diggle would be a welcome boost for residents and especially for commuters, not just from Diggle, but also from Dobcross, Delph and Denshaw as well as from parts of Uppermill to Huddersfield and Leeds as well as to Manchester. Diggle Station is also well placed for hikers to access the Pennine Way.”