Archived press
release.
A new company, the Trimley Station Community Trust, has been set
up and hopes to officially become a charity in the new year and
attract volunteers to help them achieve the goal of turning a
historic building into a locally run and used asset.
The Friends of Trimley Station and the East Suffolk Preservation
Trust joined forces and expertise to form the company so it could
agree a short-term lease with Network Rail to take on the
management of the building which was scheduled for demolition.
“It is now really full-steam ahead for those who want to save
Trimley Station and bring it into community use. This new company
is now negotiating with Network Rail to take on the building on a
two-year lease so that they weather proof it and gain funding for
their proposed future use,” said Cllr Andy Smith, Cabinet Member
for Planning.
“The goal is to turn it into a community cafe, with a large
meeting room and an office space. What the Trust now needs is to
secure the funding it requires to make it all possible, as well
enlisting the help of volunteers to carry out activities to support
their aims.
“Many people signed up as Friends but now they and others are
needed to step forward and help with activities like press and
promotion, fund-raising, or assessing the state of the building,
offering material to help improve it, or carrying out some of the
necessary work. Anyone with any relevant skills or time should
contact the Trust secretary Peter Wain at
trimleystationtrust@gmail.com,”
added Cllr Smith.
A visit was made by the preservation group recently to Brandon
Station in Norfolk to meet its Friends group and learn some very
useful lessons about how a community group tackles the rescue of an
unprotected building from scratch.
Network Rail has promised that if the group is successful in their
efforts to protect the building and gain the necessary funding that
it would grant a long-term lease for the building.
The Trimley St Mary Railway Station building was originally
scheduled to be demolished early last year, but action from the
local community backed by Suffolk Coastal persuaded Network Rail to
hold off while alternative uses were investigated.
“Public support, from the Friends group and local residents, for
preserving the building has won the day, and I would thank everyone
who has either committed themselves to joining the board, or who
has given up some time over the last couple of years, and the
invaluable help of our Felixstowe Futures and conservation
teams.
“We are very pleased that Network Rail has been so keen to work
with us and now thanks to everyone’s efforts we are on the verge of
getting an exciting long-term community use of the building.
Now we need volunteers to help carry out some of the necessary
remedial works, so the continued support of the community will
still be vital,” added Cllr
Smith.