Project Officer Market Harborough-Northampton

About this role

About this role

ERTA supports rebuilding/reopening the Market Harborough-Northampton rail link in full for passenger and freight to use:

·  10, 000 houses at Brixworth means 30, 000 extra daily vehicle movements in normal times on the A508 which is already severely congested. A rail choice is needed to check and balance development with environmental sustainability.

·  The rail link could offer a direct passenger service by rail between Oxford(via East-West Rail)-Milton Keynes-Northampton-Market Harborough-Leicester (gateway to/from the wider East Midlands).

·  The trackbed in places could be expanded and accommodate preservation railway interests and cycle/leisure interests as well as itself – the railway- being a green transport option.

·  A new north-west curve at the Northampton end would enable freight from Leicester and further afield to access DIRFT off the Northampton Loop.

These are just some of the reasons we believe the rail link should be supported and pursued. A study was done which showed positive, but has stalled because of NIMBYISM and local Rail Minster Chris Heaton Harris MP is not supporting it. It needs a team of volunteers to pursue it, rescuitate it and progress it towards reopening.Market Harborough -Northampton deals with the eastern flank of M1 and could do a lot to reduce congestion, pollution, give more positive chocies and options to work and leisure access for all. The Volunteer can:Join ERTA: https://ertarail.co.uk/ Join in ERTA’s Zoom MeetingsThe volunteer is expected to be involved with the following: • Design power- point talks and promote support throughout the relevant adjacent road corridors and wider areas • Make the case for reopening and draw Parishes, District/Borough Councils and other agencies to it • Trackbed watch: lodge and orchestrate using the ERTA Membership and wider public interest make objections to threats to the trackbed/route of railway. • Grow a team and allocate/delegate tasks and be responsible for them • recruit members to ERTA • Seek and man stalls promoting the reopening, promote it generally using creative means e.g. displays. • convene meetings and market them • Raise your own funding. If a member, limited funds may be drawn down as budgets enable – see Simon Barber for what is reasonable in budgeting and allocation terms. • Design attractive leaflets and distribute throughout the relevant adjacent road corridors and wider areas. • Lead delegated meetings to key people and places to negotiate support, resources, time and input to advance the scheme. Disclaimer: You only need to do some of these things depending on time and talent with a 3 month trial period :

When you can volunteer

Requirements

• References needed

Location

Location Market Harborough, UK