MPS praise Llangollen and Welshpool lines in parliamentary debate
TWO Welsh MPS mentioned heritage railways in their respective constituencies during a St David’s Day debate in parliament at Westminster.
Simon Baynes (Conservative, Clwyd South) said: “Clwyd South has a proud industrial and mining heritage. There is so much to celebrate in the businesses, organisations, sports teams, volunteers and communities of Clwyd South. As an MP, my job is to listen to people’s problems and to do my best to resolve them, but it is also to support and promote people’s successes.
“I have enjoyed events across the constituency, including a visit to the Llangollen Railway’s Corwen extension project. Tourism is also a major industry in Clwyd South.”
Craig Williams (Conservative, Montgomeryshire) was also quick to highlight his local heritage line. He said: “Looking at organisations such as the Montgomery canal, the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway and the Centre for Alternative Technology, one cannot help but admire the spirit of the people getting involved locally and those who travel from across the UK – and, indeed, the world – to help out and take part.
“In fact, such is the ambition of Montgomeryshire that the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway just lent one of our great steam trains to Taiwan; the growing global network of our heritage railways continues. However, we do not have to look far to see what makes Wales stand out, and to understand its great tourism potential.”
Meanwhile, at the new Corwen station, work continued on the island platform prior to the site’s closure on March 24 due to Government guidelines about the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite a wet period during February, the volunteer workforce completed the block work and edging on platform 1. The footings for a concrete base for the fourth and final set of canopy columns was excavated, but wet weather required several bailouts of the trench before shuttering and has delayed the delivery of the concrete.
Meanwhile, four newly-cast lamp posts have been delivered and installed with wiring and a pair of renovated GWR columns were erected at the eastern end of the platform for the under-construction Corwen running-in board.
The fiddly job of installing the surface drainage channels has progressed and with the tactile edging for the platform, will provide the surface for the eventual paving once a layer of fine sand has been spread.
Finally, steelwork for the basis of the waiting room has been delivered and awaits erection. Also frustrated by the enforced site closure was the scheduled ballast drop through the new trackwork and points into the loop.