Bridgnorth Station: February 2013

Bridgnorth Development update:
Update report to the Holdings Board and invitees 19th February 2013

The format of the evening:
The meeting was well attended by representatives from the Holdings and Guarantee Boards, SVRCT Trustees and SVRA officers.

Paul Taylor, Project Manager gave a 30 minute presentation updating all those in attendance on how the Working Group has embraced a more traditional architectural philosophy and is making progress with the production of both business and conservation plans.

Decisions taken:
Questions were taken at the end of the presentation and it was agreed that:
‘Support be given to the revised design approach and permission for the Working Group to proceed with further consultation and development of the project, reporting back to the Holdings and Guarantee Board, SVRCT Trustees and SVRA officers in May 2013’

It was generally recognised that whilst good progress has been made there would be a need for a wider engagement with a number of interest groups before any schemes could be finalised and signed off by the Board.

Meeting with Plan B colleagues and the release of the presentation to the Members and Shareholders:
All attendees at the Holdings Board meeting agreed that whilst the distribution of the presentation to the membership and shareholders on SVRlive would be expedient, it was decided that the most appropriate course of action was to use the presentation to inform and consult Plan B colleagues of the current project development first.

The formation of a Conservation and Heritage Committee:
Following the end of the presentation SVRCT, SVRA and Guarantee Board Directors left and the normal business of the Holdings Board was undertaken.

Last night’s Board Meeting also received a recommendation that a new Committee be formed to support the Railway in all matters relating to Conservation and Heritage.

David Postle, Curator of Kidderminster Railway Museum has agreed to initially lead this new committee and will work with Mike Ball, Deputy Chairman of SVR(Holdings)Plc and Nick Ralls, General Manager to establish a clear mandate and terms of reference.
They will also consider the composition of the committee and propose a list of members, primarily drawn from the volunteers on the railway. This work will be completed in time for it to be issued prior to the next Board meeting so that it can be formally ratified. The next Board meeting is on Tuesday March 19th.

A meeting will be called in the immediate future with the team that has developed ‘Plan B’ to share with them the latest proposals that were presented at last night’s Board meeting, to enlist their support in the formation of the Conservation and Heritage Committee and to involve them in the on-going development of the Bridgnorth site.

The Holdings Board were keen that any project in the future concerning the built environment of the Severn Valley Railway is initiated with a full understanding of the importance of the historic precedent of the buildings and structures and has been considered by the new committee.

Nick Ralls
General Manager
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Bridgnorth Development update:

The station approach