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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paul Britton

Passengers can get a pampering as pop-up SPA opens at a railway station

Passengers and the public can enjoy a pampering at a pop-up spa now open at a railway station.

Rail bosses at train operating company Northern said they wanted stations to be 'more than just places to travel to and from' as they made the announcement on Friday.

A previously unused area on the first floor of the main station entrance building at Heaton Chapel station in Stockport has been completely refurbished.

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Northern said it is now home to Flourish Together, a social enterprise consultancy supporting people with ideas to set up or scale up their own ventures.

A programme of activities and events will be based there, including a monthly pop-up spa offering beauty, wellbeing and holistic therapies at affordable prices.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern said: "At Northern, we want our stations are more than just places to travel to and from, we want to put our customers at the heart of everything we do. This scheme is the perfect example of this, and we're excited to welcome Flourish Together into its new home."

The station in Stockport (MEN)

Nickala Torkington, founder and director, said: "We're thrilled to be able to bring our knowledge, skills and networks to the area and regenerate this fabulous character building and offer much needed, affordable working spaces and a new small venue for community groups and events."

A scheme called Action Stations was set up by Greater Manchester Stations Alliance, which includes representation from Northern, Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (GMCVO).

The scheme is billed as an 'exciting opportunity' for community organisations, social enterprise groups and charities to occupy previously unused space inside four railway stations in Greater Manchester, Heaton Chapel, Broadbottom, Altrincham and Trafford Park.

GMCVO said all four were 'currently in varying levels of disrepair and disuse' but under the alliance, £650,000 worth of funding has been secured for their renovation.

Northern (PA)

At Altrincham railway station, an old storeroom and the current customer information point on platform four will be transformed into 'The Hub' - two large rooms made available for community use. A new waiting room will also be added to the same building.

At Trafford Park station in Stretford, meanwhile, space has been found to create a room for use by local health practitioners, added Northern.

Michael Keating, station development manager at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said he was 'absolutely delighted' with the scheme.

"Transport for Greater Manchester is proud of the work that the Stations Alliance has achieved by ensuring that disused buildings at our rail stations can now be utilised to offer services for the local communities that they serve," he said.

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