Station buildings saved by the community

And it could lead the way to the restoration of a former branch line from the station at Gobowen to Oswestry.

The buildings on the station platform at Gobowen have been bought by the Gobowen Area Improvement Group.

They had been in private ownership for many years and were destined to be sold at auction.

However, intervention by Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council with a Community Right to Bid application opened a path for the buildings to be secured for the community.

Sheila Dee, Community Rail Officer for the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership and a member of

the group said: "This acquisition provides the foundation for an ambitious project to see the historic station returned to a former glory whilst also providing a connecting rail service to Oswestry with intermediate stations at the Orthopaedic Hospital and tourism venues along the route.

"The development will also considerably enhance the employment opportunities within the local area, particularly in tourism and engineering within the railway spectrum of the project.

Through the Community Right to Bid process the group had to raise the necessary funding and sought assistance from Three Parishes Big Local, the Big Lottery funded programme for Gobowen, St Martins and Weston Rhyn.

Three Parishes Big Local provided a grant and a loan totalling £110,000.

Spokesman, Glenn Pennington, said: “We were impressed with the innovative opportunities that the station buildings project offers for revitalising the local area.”

The Oswestry Station Building Trust acted as the facilitator in the purchase. It will be the owner and financial partner in the management of the project and working within GAIP will continue to plan the future development of the station buildings offering security of tenure for the existing tenants.

These include Severn Dee Travel, the not for profit rail agency which has run the booking office there for over 20 years.

Roger Date speaking for the Oswestry Station Building Trust said he was delighted to have played a part in the partnership's success and looked forward to assisting with the delivery of the community rail project along with the numerous other community opportunities for revitalisation of the area.

Mrs Dee said that the group had worked very hard to achieve this aspiration and had seen great supportfrom stakeholders, the rail industry and the community.

"The many hours spent working on this bid and compiling our business plan had been very worthwhile and made us far more prepared for challenges that were faced in raising the finances needed. The opportunity these buildings give this area are immense.

"Already we have a staffed station through Severn Dee Travel and a station café managed by the Derwen College. Restoration of the once beautiful buildings will make the station a real gateway to the area once more."