Just another quick update, as the ‘lockdown’ trundles on.
Ted and I have been continuing to do a bit in background to keep things moving. We have taken the opportunity to try to put together bids for two ‘railway investment funds’.
-
The “Reversing Beeching / Ideas Fund” – announced quite recently by UK government and to which we have already registered interest
-
The revised “New Station Fund” (NSF)
We are having help in putting these bids together via ZOOM meetings. Firstly, from Monmouthshire County Council (Roger Hoggins, Christian Schmidt and Cllr. Frances Taylor) who have commissioned Mott MacDonald to produce some essential information to strengthen our case (which we didn’t have when we applied to the NSF previously) and to draft the two applications. Secondly, but just as importantly, Jessica Morden MP and John Griffith AM have written to the Train Operators and Network Rail to ask them to state their ‘support in principle’, as this will also strengthen our bids. This was done on the advice of one of our contacts in DfT London.
All being well, the bids will be submitted in the next week or so to meet their stated deadlines.
So, until next month when I will update on progress, stay safe and let’s hope the ‘lockdown’ constraints continue to be eased.
Paul
Supporting Organisations
