OLD STATION BUILDING
Even 130-year olds can have a decent facelift.
FoGS secured the support of the Rail Heritage Trust. As the building is one of the last remaining Victorian, wooden, modular buildings complete with canopy in the whole country, the Trust agreed that it was worthy of being saved. They are providing £40,000 out of a total cost which we believe will be over £100,000.
And so restoration of the old ticket office started. In November 2018, Network Rail organised the replacement of the floor and in December the redundant electrics, internal panelling and ceiling were removed. Renovation of the outside of the building took place between January and June 2019 which, for budgeting purposes, overlapped two financial years. Owing to the proximity of the high voltage power lines, much of the exterior work had to be done during the night with ”possession” of the line so electricity could be switched off completely. The building is finished in specified heritage colours, principally green and cream as now, rather than in the livery of Northern.
It is envisaged that FoGS will be responsible for the decoration of the inside and the installation of new sanitary ware. Extra volunteers will be essential at this point. After that the franchise holders and FoGS will be seeking tenants for the building; the tenancy can be for commercial or for community use and for the whole building or a part thereof.
