Good news and not so good news for Alford Valley revival efforts

ALFORD Valley Community Railway (AVCR) has been awarded a second grant from The Place Based Investment Programme of £165,000 towards Phase 2 (work on the engine shed and turntable) of its project to revive the 2ft gauge line.

However, AVCR is still awaiting completion of its lease and approval of the scope of refurbishment works from Aberdeenshire Council. A lease for Alford station was applied for in February 2021 and approved by January 2022. All required documentation was completed and handed to the council around February/March 2022 for signing off but the signed lease still (June 2022) has not been returned to AVCR.

AVCR is concerned that the delay in dealing with the lease and approving the scope of works (required before restoration of the station can commence) is now putting over £250,000 of grant money at risk since the grants are contingent on completing works by stated dates. The delays are also causing AVCR’s legal fees to spiral while the site itself is falling into further disrepair.