‘Mystery’ blaze ravages Lydd station
CAMPAIGNERS aiming to save the closed Lydd station in Kent were dealt a devastating blow on November 8 when a blaze tore through the 19thcentury building, destroying the roof and canopy.
Built by the South Eastern Railway in 1881, the station is situated on the single-track branch that serves the nuclear power plant at Dungeness. Lydd station was closed to passengers on March 6, 1967, and was used as a vehicle repair workshop until sometime during the 1980s, since when it has lain derelict.
The site was offered for sale for redevelopment in 2006. There are no submitted planning applications for the site at present, despite having been sold off.
More recently, a campaign group was formed with a view to saving and restoring the building.
Lydd Station Heritage Group spokesman Jay Deed said: “Our mission is to save the site and return it to community use. We have discussed many ideas so far. Our ultimate aim would be to have a public service train running – even if only in the mornings and evenings for local commuters – with a heritage service which would run from there to both Dungeness and Appledore.
“We would really love to save the original station building and the site of the former goods yard and sidings, which would allow us to bring rolling stock in to be worked on. This would allow local people to engage with the site, and youths to have something to learn and do, and by having people on site, provide security for it.
“We would also really like to have a community centre of sorts, such as a café or coffee shop, where people can meet up and enjoy the company of friends.”
In the early hours of November 8, the building was alight, and four fire crews were dispatched to bring the flames under control. The cause has yet to be determined, but the group is aware that youths have been known to have set up dens in the abandoned building, using metal bins for fireplaces.
Members of the campaign group are hopeful that the damage will not result in the need to demolish the structure so as not to pose any danger to passing trains. In the meantime, they are continuing with their plans to save the station by investigating the process to have the remains listed.
“We will have a website soon to further support our mission and we are in the process of setting up our legal entity and bank account,” Jay added. “Since the fire, the Facebook group has had more members. We can still save it and we are not short of volunteers for the physical side.”
To join the group and support its mission, search for Lydd Station Heritage Group on Facebook.