Llangollen and Corwen Railway has welcomed Helen White, Chief Executive of Denbighshire County Council, for discussions about strengthening the partnership between the two organisations and communities in the Dee Valley.
Ms White, who took up her role in January, met David Hennigan, Trust Manager, and Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager, at Llangollen Station.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the significant contribution the Railway makes to the local economy, its 800 volunteers, investment in heritage engineering and apprenticeships, environmental improvements and the railway's growing work with communities along the line.
The county council is the railway's landlord and has worked closely with the organisation on a wide range of projects.
Discussions included the railway's work in Llangollen, Berwyn, Llantysilio, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen, and how increasing visitor numbers can translate into greater economic benefit for businesses and communities throughout the Dee Valley.
In Corwen, the railway is actively working with Corwen Town Council on its Placemaking Plan.
The railway has also developed a successful partnership with the community-run Owain Glyndŵr Hotel, including a Sunday roast experience which is bringing dozens of passengers into Corwen on Sunday afternoons. As recently as Saturday evening, more than 150 customers from the railway's Real Ale Train visited the venue.
The meeting also covered the railway's investment at Glyndyfrdwy, including plans to transform the Grade II listed former Barmouth South Signal Box into a new Visitor and Conservation Hub.
The chief executive was also updated on the work to develop the next generation of heritage railway skills, including its growing Youth Group and its work with Coleg Cambria to create apprenticeship opportunities within the railway's engineering operation.
The visit included a tour of Llangollen Motive Power Depot, where Ms White met some of the volunteers responsible for maintaining and restoring the Railway's historic locomotives and infrastructure.
Trust Manager David Hennigan said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Helen to the Railway and, most importantly, to have the opportunity to thank Denbighshire County Council for the considerable support they continue to give us.
“With around 800 volunteers, the railway makes a huge contribution to this part of Denbighshire. We bring people into Llangollen and then carry them through the Dee Valley to communities including Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen.
“Our job is increasingly about making sure those communities benefit from the visitors we attract. We don't want people simply travelling through these places. We want them to get off the train, explore, eat, drink, shop and discover what the Dee Valley has to offer.
“Denbighshire County Council is our landlord, but our relationship is about considerably more than a lease. We have so many shared interests, particularly around tourism, economic development, young people, volunteering and our local communities.
“Today's meeting was about looking at how we can make that partnership even stronger. When the railway succeeds, we want the communities along our line to succeed with us.”
The railway has worked closely with Denbighshire County Council through the Shared Prosperity Fund, supporting volunteer development, youth engagement, heritage interpretation and environmental improvements.
Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager at Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: “It was great to have the opportunity to show Helen around our Motive Power Depot and introduce her to some of the skilled volunteers who keep the Railway moving.
“One of our biggest challenges is making sure the specialist skills needed to maintain steam locomotives, heritage rolling stock and traditional railway infrastructure are passed on to another generation.
“That's why our work with young people and the development of apprenticeships with Coleg Cambria is so important. We want young people to be able to learn alongside people who have accumulated decades of engineering experience.
“Heritage engineering has a future, but only if we invest in the people who will be responsible for that future. We want Llangollen to be recognised as somewhere where those skills are learned, practised and passed on.”
Helen White said: “I was delighted to visit Llangollen and Corwen Railway and to see first-hand the enormous amount of work undertaken by its volunteers.
“The railway is an important part of Denbighshire's tourism and heritage offer, but today's visit also demonstrated the much wider contribution it can make through volunteering, skills development, environmental improvements and its connections with communities throughout the Dee Valley.
“It was particularly useful to hear about the work taking place in Corwen and Glyndyfrdwy and the railway's ambitions to encourage visitors to explore the communities along the route.
“We value our relationship with the railway and look forward to continuing to work together and exploring opportunities which can deliver benefits for residents, businesses and communities across the area.”
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.