WEST SOMERSET NEEDS £1M
Struggling railway needs cash.
THE WEST Somerset Railway has launched a £1 million emergency SOS appeal to help it survive until next May, after it was turned down for a second Culture Recovery Fund grant.
Although the WSR received £864,900 from the first round of Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sports funding last year, it failed to get approval for this year’s grant, which would have provided an extra £432,000. WSR plc director Steve Williams indicated that the grant had been refused as the railway was now considered a commercial organisation instead of a ‘not for profit’ one.
WSR plc chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said the railway was “bitterly disappointed not to have gained this valuable and much-needed second round grant support”, calling it a “vital financial lifeline needed for the railway’s survival.”
In a letter to WSR members and supporters, Jones-Pratt said: “We need a minimum of around £150,000 per month to be able to meet our obligations and to run the railway safely and provide a quality experience for visitors. This does not include the investment required for infrastructure maintenance and renewal, which the plc board estimates requires around £500,000 per annum.”
The £1m SOS appeal aims to meet the shortfall between operational costs and predicted revenue, cover basic overheads, and provide additional funds for winter infrastructure and mechanical engineering work ahead of the 2022 season. In addition, the WSR plc board is also considering another share issue and is seeking financial assistance from the West Somerset Railway Association and the West Somerset Heritage Railway Trust.
To contribute, visit www.west-somersetrailway.co.uk/donations
●● WSR services won’t return to Minehead until October, owing to ongoing delays to the renewal of Seaward Way level crossing caused by Covid-19, “supply chain issues” and sourcing specialist rail contractors. Replacement bus services from Dunster will operate from July.