NEWPORT Business Association has celebrated the three-month anniversary since ‘adopting’ the local train station.

Since ‘adopting’ the National Express East Anglia-managed station, NBA has already 13 achievements on a list of 30 proposals it wants to fulfil - thanks to the 33 supporting volunteers and organisations on board to help.

NXEA area manager Alan Neville spoke of his pride in the adoption process and Jeremy Rose, founder of NBA, for pushing the project forward.

“I am very proud of Jeremy, Trisha and the train station adoption process. National Express now has 90 stations, of the 166 that we manage, a part of the adoption process,” he said.

“Jeremy is an extraordinary person and his enthusiasm and ability to drive forward this process is fantastic. I am delighted to acknowledge that the repainting of the station is taking place and work on the stairway and bridge is starting in late April.

“I am very proud to be closely involved with this wonderful project - there is so much potential. The station was winning awards for its waiting room in the 1980s and I am confident that it will again.”

Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haselhurst gave the scheme his backing and put his faith in Mr Neville to help achieve a better station.

“Newport station is a gateway to business and I have faith in the train station and Alan Neville to achieve a better station,” he said.

“This is a project that can’t be done without local businesses - if it becomes the best station in the area then the businesses will benefit.

“Localism, which is the buzz word at the moment, is about making it easier for businesses to thrive and work together to get local action projects going.”

The regeneration of the station is also getting the support of Ridgeons - who are acting as the main sponsor - as well as Essex Probation. Both are providing volunteers to offer a helping hand.

Ridgeons branch manager Hugh Guntrip said: “We’re really pleased to get involved and to get our staff involved because it is their community.

“We have built the notice board outside the station and provided materials, machinery and a workforce to the project.”

Community Pay Back coordinator from Essex Probation, Adele Hill, said: “We get offenders of all ages to help out so they can pay back the community for the crimes they have committed. It is brilliant because they can see it is worthwhile which makes them very enthusiastic.”