NE CAMBS MP Steve Barclay has pitched in at the Whittlesea Station Clean-up as his ongoing campaign to improve transport links in the area accelerates.

Mr Barclay visited the station while volunteers carried out practical improvements; trimming foliage, filling in pot holes, cleaning the platform, painting over graffiti and renovating seating.

The MP has suggested a number of low cost practical improvements to Network Rail and the train operating companies.

Mr Barclay said: “I am delighted to see the station being cleaned up by volunteers and by workers from Peterborough Prison, and hope this is the start of a series of improvements at the station.

“I believe there is great potential to make more use of Whittlesea station given its proximity to Peterborough, the high costs of parking both at Peterborough station which costs �13 per day and in the city which often costs �5.50 per day and congestion on the A605.”

Mr Barclay suggested a programme of works to help transform Whittlesea Station during a meeting with a senior official from Network Rail on Monday.

Suggested improvements include the installation of a ticket machine, tarmacing the car park and having screens to show train times.

Mr Barclay added: “I am heartened from the response by Network Rail who recognise the potential of Whittlesea which is just one stop from the country’s East Coast Mainline.”

The MP is also in discussion with train operating companies and Network Rail regarding more substantial changes at the station.

These could see trains stopping more frequently than every two hours, the improvement of the short platforms and it could also create a connection between the bus service and the station.