New Year Update

Happy New Year to everyone.

We wanted to provide an update on the status of where we’re at.

Essentially, we are behest to Network Rail’s policies, procedures and paperwork.

We opened a new case in July last year with the architectural plans and schedule of works with regards to the new roofs, new canopy and ceiling timber. This case is still open.

New information has come to light today. Network Rail have now insisted that we require a lease agreement with them, before we can start work on the roof and canopy etc.

This is according to the business and technical clearance, which was received in November 2022 and April 2023 respectively. At no point have we ever received any documentation pertaining to this clearance, nor were we informed that a lease is required before we can start work.

In fact, we have already started work, having installed a secure fence on the platform, funded by both our group and a local councillor community grant scheme.

We requested a lease agreement on 16th October 2025 and have not yet received any response.

We are vehemently opposed to the way in which this process has been conducted by Network Rail. Everything has been incredibly slow, there has been conflicting information and a significant lack of communication on their part.

Therefore, we have raised our concerns with both Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust, one of our grant providers.

It cannot simply go on like this and I will not be willing to continue my involvement with the project if we do not start work on site by the summer. This is my red line, which I have stated to all of our stakeholders.

I sincerely thank everyone for their patience and I hope you understand the situation we face as a team, which is entirely out of our control.