Bridgnorth Cliff Railway exempt from EU rules threat
Historic transport systems such as Bridgnorth's Cliff Railway are exempt from EU regualtions that may have threatened their future, it has been ruled.
Such vintage cableways should be excluded from a new European directive to standardise mechanisms and product requirements, the European Parliament has decided, in what Shropshire MP Philip Dunne has called a victory for common sense.
Built in an age before mass-production of engine parts, by their very nature historic cableways often have to have unique and tailor-made parts made when being overhauled and maintained.
Without being made exempt from the new regualtions, the ageing tourist attractions would have found it virtually impossible to comply with new standardised requirements for replacement parts, Mr Dunne said.
He said West Midlands MEP Daniel Dalton had helped persuade colleagues to back the argument for excluding heritage cableways from the directive.
Mr Dunne said: "This is a classic case where, thanks to the hard work of Conservative MEPs, common sense has prevailed.
"I am delighted Bridgnorth's Cliff Railway will remain excluded from these new rules. I pay tribute to the hard work of Dan Dalton MEP for his efforts to support this historic Bridgnorth attraction.
"Without his hard work, new regulations would have meant the future viability of the Cliff Railway could have been under serious threat. This shows how important it is to have real representation in the European Parliament, rather than grandstanding."
Dan Dalton MEP said: "This is an important win for common sense, ensuring that major tourist attractions such as Bridgnorth Cliff Railway can continue to thrive in the 21st century, more than 120 years after it first took visitors on the scenic trip 111 feet up the cliffs between High and Low Town.
"Equally, this agreement sets a good precedent, it recognises that historic cableways already comply with national health and safety laws and accepts there was no need to force them comply with a new one-size fits all regulation.
"With this agreement we have both ensured public safety and protected historic tourist attractions for the future."
