SVR ‘helping hands for Falling Sands’ fundraising appeal raises £397,000
The Severn Valley Railway is celebrating the news that it has hit the £397,000 target for its Falling Sands Viaduct appeal.
Director of development Shelagh Paterson has paid tribute to the many individuals, community organisations and businesses who’ve contributed to add their names to a giant donation wall that will be created at the railway later this year:
“The appeal name of ‘helping hands for Falling Sands’ summed up the spirit of everybody pitching in to do their bit, and that’s exactly what’s happened. We knew we’d attract a great deal of interest and support, but we really didn’t expect the amazing response we have had. Our original fundraising target was £275,000. As last Christmas approached, this had increased to £397,000 . However, thanks to the thousands of people who’ve responded we have raised our target amount in just 10 months.
“The process of checking and putting in order each of the thousands of names is now underway, and we’ll be working with our designer and manufacturer to create a stunning wall that we can all be proud of. We haven’t got an exact date for its installation at The Engine House, Highley, but it’s planned for the current running season.”
The Trust needed to raise £397,000 as match funding in support of a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a further £1 million. Competition for funding is very strong, and the Trust expects to receive a decision from the Heritage Fund later this month.
Shelagh added “If the full funding amount is secured, we will press ahead in June to create the exhibition and education parts of the project, through which we will bring alive the history of the Railway from its earliest days, and the original construction of Falling Sands during the 1870s. We will create an innovative mobile exhibition in our recently restored Stove R van, and an exciting, major installation at The Engine House, Highley.
“The restoration part of the project will begin early in January 2020. Contractors will remove the track, ballast and sandstone rubble from the viaduct. They will install efficient drainage channels and add a modern, waterproof membrane, before putting everything back together. Once the structure has properly dried out, damaged bricks will be replaced and the mortar repointed. We hope that the entire restoration will be completed by autumn 2020.”
The 142-year-old Falling Sands Viaduct urgently needs extensive repairs. Water has seeped into the structure, causing it to crack and erode. Unless the railway carries out remedial work, it may be forced to reduce the length of trains, or even face temporary or permanent closure of the line.
