Mural will showcase the best of Batley

The Friends of Batley Station group (FOBS), which has been campaigning for improvements at the railway building for more than a year, has been backed by PPG coatings company in Birstall.

And over the next two weeks, around 100 volunteers from the company’s community projects scheme will decorate the subway walls.

The team will also install planters and flowers around the platforms and renovate the station shop.

Batley West councillor and FOBS chairwoman Gwen Lowe said: “The station has been neglected for so many years.

“It is the gateway into Batley and we want a station to be proud of.

“FOBS has been and will be working hard to bring the railway building back up to a really good standard and bring it back to its national heritage.

“The mural will look amazing and will help to create a colourful and welcoming environment.”

Since its formation last year, the volunteer-led friends group has been fighting for ‘a better station’, a campaign also backed by Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox.

It has secured several projects including new seating and repairs to the station building’s roof panels.

And it hopes to obtain funding for further developments over the next five years including refurbished toilets and smart card ticketing.

The group also wants to have the station manned full-time.

Coun Lowe said: “I was very concerned about the state of the station and a lot of people were complaining about it.

“We have worked to secure these improvements and we have achieved so much in the last 12 months.

“I couldn’t have done this without the members of FOBS sharing my vision.”