CARDIFF businesses held a rally yesterday demanding that the NSW Government upgrade Cardiff railway station and scrap plans to cut staff hours at the busy station.Having unsuccessfully lobbied the Government for 13 years for a lift at the station, businesspeople held placards urging Premier Nathan Rees and Transport Minister David Campbell to help.Cardiff Jewellers owner Robin Roworth, vice president of the town's chamber of commerce, said the Government had broken promises for years to upgrade Cardiff station.Mrs Roworth produced a 2001 letter from the Government that rejected an upgrade for Cardiff and promised that Glendale station would be built by 2004.Government sources said Glendale won't be built until 2014 and Cardiff's upgrade delayed until 2016."The Government has totally ignored us," Mrs Roworth said.Cardiff has the third-highest ticket sales among Hunter stations, earning $1 million a year.Cardiff businessman Max McCorkell said he was appalled at the way Cardiff was treated."We think there's a hidden agenda to shut down Cardiff station," Mr McCorkell said."The Government should wake up to itself."Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said she opposed the Government's plan to stop manning Cardiff station at weekends."We desperately need a lift at Cardiff station . . . I urge the State Government to make it a priority," Ms Hornery said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading