SOS – Askam community appeal to 'save our station'
Last updated at 14:35, Thursday, 17 May 2012
A COMMUNITY appeal has been launched to raise £40,000 for emergency roof repairs at an historic Furness railway station.
The newly-formed Friends of Askam Railway Station has set the “Roof Appeal” target as part of its vision to preserve the Grade II listed building.
The large slate roof on the platform building – a rare remaining example of Victorian railway architecture – needs urgent repair work.
Andrew Dowey, Friends of Askam Railway Station chairman, said: “Despite the fact the building looks nice, the roof is actually approaching a critical condition, and if it’s not repaired very soon, water ingress will happen and damage will take place and there’s potential to lose it.
“The group is a community-based project, where we’re trying to preserve the building as well as sustain a long-term use for it.”
The group is a partnership between Northern Rail, the Community Rail Partnership and Cumbria County Council, but championed by the community.
People can visit the website www.friendsofaskamstation.org.uk and sponsor a slate for £1, and click to become a member of the group.
Mr Dowey said: “We will take on the building and grounds and bring them up to a high standard, which benefits the community and is a real opportunity.
“We’re taking a long-term vision and still looking at uses for the building.
“However, in the back of all that, we’re hoping to return it to what is known as heritage status, so it attracts interest from a tourism point of view and markets the Cumbria Coast Line, which needs every bit of help it can get at the moment to get passenger numbers sustained and possibly increased.”
Mr Dowes said Terry and Eria Davies deserved great credit for keeping watch of the station over the years.
Councillor George Twiname, chairman of Askam and Ireleth Parish council, welcomed the new group at a meeting of the council on Tuesday evening.
He said: “It’s something that’s very important for the village and we look forward to receiving regular updates.”
First published at 13:46, Thursday, 17 May 2012
Published by http://www.askamlocal.co.uk
Have your say
I have always thought it would make a nice licensed station buffet, like the ones at Stalybridge and Dewsbury. It would draw people from all over the North, and provide a worthwhile amenity for the community too. Is there room for a brewery on the North end too?
Posted by Old Tom on 18 May 2012 at 18:07