Sandbach councillor and vice-chair of the Highways and Transport committee, Laura Crane, has revealed exactly what it would mean to win the bid to house the new HQ of the Great British Railways.

Not only would it bring jobs and investment to the area, it would also pay homage to her own family - who are steeped in the local rail industry and Sandbach in particular, going back several generations.

Cllr Laura Crane

Cllr Crane's great great grandad and his wife and children moved from Merseyside to Crewe in the 1800s for the rail industry but the connection doesn't stop there.

Cllr Crane's great great grandad and his wife and children moved from Merseyside to Crewe in the 1800s

For Cllr Crane's great grandad ran the omnibus from the centre of Sandbach to the railway station, sited at Elworth, a short way out of the town centre, later becoming station master.

Fast forward to 2022 and Cllr Crane, along with the rest of Cheshire East and other parties, is campaigning for Crewe to win the bid to house the new base. 

"Bringing GBR HQ to Crewe would be fantastic for the town and surrounding areas, including Sandbach," said Cllr Crane.

Sandbach Station as it is today - just one stop away from Crewe.

"Good jobs and investment should follow as we cement Crewe at the heart of rail.

"Back in the 1800s my great-great-grandfather brought his family to Crewe to find work in the new town and every generation since has found a home in the industry.

"This included my great grandad Jack Hulme who ran the LNWR omnibus from Sandbach to the station and later became station master.

"With these additional opportunities, who knows how many future generations will follow in our footsteps?"

Crewe is one of six shortlisted locations vying to become the home of Great British Railways, a new public body that will have responsibility for owning Britain's rail infrastructure, collecting fare revenue and running the network.

A public vote will play an important role in determining which of locations will become the home of GBR.

Crewe is the only town on the shortlist, and the only place in the North West, making it doubly important for people to vote before the deadline of 15 August.

You can vote for Crewe's to become the home of https://gbrcrewe.co.uk/

Let's bring GBR HQ to Crewe – get your vote in NOW!