This page contains news releases published by the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust.
For more information please email jane@glynvalleytramway.co.uk.
JULY 2008
GLYN VALLEY TRAMWAY TRUST RECEIVES COMBINED GRANT OF £38,500 FROM WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT AND WREXHAM CBC TO UNDERTAKE PRELIMINARY WORK TO RE-INSTATE GVT FROM CHIRK.
Today (3July 2008) the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust has received confirmation that it has been successful in winning a £30,000 grant from from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) via the Welsh Assembly Government, to allow the Trust to undertake all the detailed work required before re-construction of the Glyn Valley Tramway can begin at Chirk.
The Grant will be administered through Northern Marches Cymru and an additional £8,500 has been pledged by Wrexham County Borough Council. The Grant will pay for the engagement of external Consultants to undertake a range of work that will be required in advance of construction.
The First Part will be a High Level Study to look in detail at the overall future of the original route of the Glyn Valley tramway and how it might be re-instated in part or in total, either directly through the Trust or other interested bodies. This study will include the feasibility of re-instating the roadside sections and the tramway’s possible role in a changed future Public Transport environment. The High Level Study will also look at the potential benefits of an operational Tramway to the local economy and its integration within the local tourist scene. The work will involve a substantial amount of consultation including public and private stakeholders, special interest groups and the general public.
The Second Part will cover all the detailed work required for a First Phase re-instatement at Chirk. This will include all the technical design work including Railway and Buildings, Environmental and other specialist reports. This will also include a detailed business plan that will be used by the Trust to support its on-going fund raising activities to deliver the actual construction. The Consultants will undertake a range of scoping and consultation activities and the final document will include all the documents required to make a Planning Application.
The Final Part will be a Public Exhibition / Event to present the results of the High Level Study and design of Phase 1.
The Trust will be publishing advertisements in local press, national specialist publications and online at www.glynvalleytramway.co.uk The closing dates for Tenders will be by 12 noon Friday 1 August 2008. The successful Contractor will be notified by Friday 8st August 2008. The work will be completed by 28th November 2008 and the Public exhibition will be held before the end of March 2009 (date to be confirmed)
The Glyn Valley Tramway Trust is very grateful for the assistance and support given it by a large number of local individuals and organisations and believes that this will be the first step to seeing steam trains running on the Glyn Valley Tramway within 2 years.
JUNE 2008
British Industry helps Glyn Valley Tramway Trust
Two of Britain’s major industrial organisations have to-day joined forces to help the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust, they are Jewsons a major stockist and supplier of building materials through their distribution centre in Chirk, Wrexham, and major international board manufacture Kronospan, whose British headquarters are also based in Chirk, Wrexham.
The two organisations have joined forces to help move the GVT Trust’s first piece of rolling stock, an 11 ft long replica of an original GVT freight wagon, from Chard Junction in Somerset, where it has been built, to Chirk. There it will go on display at the forthcoming Chirk Carnival and Fun Day, where the GVT Trust will have a strong presence, featuring three separate stalls for marketing, recruitment and membership whilst operating in collaboration with the Wrexham Model Engineering Club, a 5inch passenger carrying railway.
Mike McKenna of Kronospan said “ We are delighted to have been able to help in this project, which we see as leading to the ultimate restoration of the Glyn Valley Tramway which will do so much for the economy of Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley” His views were echoed by Lee Davies, Jewsons Manager in Chirk, who added that as a Chirk resident and having ben born in the town, he was very pleased to see the old GVT line being restored.
More pictures here: http://www.wagon.glynvalleytramway.co.uk.
Chirk Fun Day – Saturday 28th June 2008
In connection with the Fun Day, the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust intend to be ‘on the field’ in strength, using the ‘Fun Day’ as a way of engaging with the people of Chirk.
The Trust will feature three stalls, the first being the Trust’s ‘Market Stall’ where will be available a range of gifts and souvenirs, suitable for persons of all ages.
The second stall will be the Trust’s Information and Volunteer Recruitment Bureau. Here those interested in the technical aspects of the line’s regeneration from the original Chirk terminus to Glyn Ceiriog, can meet and talk to David Dilnot, the Trust’s Project Manager, and then (perhaps) sign up to help in one of the many volunteering categories that the Trust is developing.
The third stall will be the Trust’s Membership and Publicity Stand. Here all those interested in joining and supporting the work of the Trust can become active or passive members, through a wide range of membership schemes whilst talking to Bernard Rockett the Trust’s Membership Secretary. For those wanting further information, such as members of the press, local government officers and political representatives, Jane Redfern-Jones will be on hand to deal with their enquiries and make suitable appointments or introductions.
In collaboration with the Wrexham Model Engineering Club, we are operating a 120 ft passenger carrying railway of 5in gauge, which throughout the afternoon will run from Chirk to Glyn Ceiriog (in miniature), charging a nominal sum for transportation.
Finally, fresh from the workshop, will be our GVT ‘style’ Wagon No.5, a most impressive piece of rolling stock some 11ft in length and 6ft high, brought to Chirk by Jewsons of Chirk as a token of their support for the Trust.
The Trustees look forward to seeing you on the day!