The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fears funding bid could go off rails
Angus Council chiefs have been urged to get on board with a Brechin heritage railway bid to bring a potential £20 million tourism and a transport cash windfall to the district.
But there are fears the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) application for UK Government cash might hit the buffers before it even gets going.
Caledonian Railway says the money could transform its future and deliver farreaching benefits for the area. Plans include an extension from Bridge of Dun to reconnect services with the main line at Montrose.
Events and training opportunities centred around the 174-year-old Brechin station are also proposed.
But Caley Railway chairman Jon Gill is concerned a “lack of vision and foresight” might scupper the bid.
He is worried officials will say the LUF cash bid is too risky in a report to councillors later this month. It will go before the newly elected members just days before the applications deadline.
Dundee City Council was caught in a levelling-up row after it emerged the authority failed to submit a bid in the first round of funding last year.
The Queen’s Awardwinning heritage railway has been running for 40 years. It pulls in thousands of visitors annually for events including Thomas the Tank Engine days, sloe gin services and steam weekends.
And last year, Brechin was the first Scottish stop for the Polar Express experience based around the hit animated movie starring Tom Hanks.
The railway operates on the four-mile stretch between Brechin and Bridge of Dun.
Long-term ambitions include extending the link to the east coast main line at Montrose.
It also wants to open up disused Angus rail lines as
routes for walkers and cyclists.
But when approached, Mr Gill revealed the charity has struggled to get council officials on board with the bid. It is understood they were initially reluctant to put the Caledonian Railway plan before councillors.
The full council will consider the LUF report on June 30.
But a July 6 deadline for applications means the schedule is very tight.
“We have a unique heritage asset within Angus, with significant historical interest,” said Mr Gill. “Fortunately, our plans are well developed and we believe it is therefore still achievable, including managing the commercial risk within the project.
“Unlike many charity projects, we are a profitable, extremely well managed operation with a track record of 40-plus years.
“We believe our proposed bid would bring significant benefit to the whole of
Angus. The Polar Express brought in tourists from continental Europe as well as all over the UK. More than 90% of our tickets sold within two days.
“Improving rail links and coach tour access will increase visitors more than 10-fold.
“Our projections suggest we can increase tangible tourism spend in the area by more than £10m per annum within three years, and £20m within five years.
“This project would allow us to provide an increased catalogue of formal and fully accredited training for people seeking work in many sectors such as finance, tourism and facilities management.”
And the railway believes a successful bid could also ease pressure on the council’s stretched budget by taking away the burden of issues such as bridge repair.
“We are at a loss to understand the lack of
vision and foresight in not supporting applications for this funding,” Mr Gill added.
“My concern otherwise is that it may be presented to councillors in such a way that it will be impossible to be passed and we don’t believe this is the right decision for Angus.”
A council spokesman said: “A report on the Levelling Up Fund will be brought to the meeting of the full council on June 30 for consideration.
“While the bid from Brechin Caledonian Railway is the only proposal at this stage, there are other potential bids being explored following community engagement over the summer.”
Local councils in Scotland are entitled to bid for up to £20m in support from the LUF for each parliamentary constituency in their area. The Caley Railway bid would involve around £18m of that.