The biggest expansion of a UK heritage tramway for many years has been given the go-ahead with the wider plan to expand the East Anglia Transport Museum getting planning permission this week. As we first reported back in December 2017 the plans will not only see a new tram route and depot but will also see extensions to the railway and trolleybus route on 2.06 hectares of land which was purchased from the adjacent Eades Farm.
The tramway plans will see a new tramway route constructed with two forks. This will diverge from the current woodland tramway just before the entrance to the woods before running alongside a new tram depot and then splitting to run to either end of the new site. A additional line along the far boundary of the site will also be built joining these two new termini.
Away from the trams a bus depot and new trolleybus depot will be built on the new site with both trolleybuses and the East Suffolk Light Railway enjoying new routes.
Waveney District Council’s planning committee reviewed the plans following their submission and they have now given the go-ahead for the expansion to take place. Two objections were received from properties backing onto the new site based on noise pollution but noise reducing fencing will be installed to reduce the risk of this.
Tim Major, from the East Anglia Transport Museum, said: “We’re very pleased with the decision. The expansion will provide the accommodation we need for our vehicles because the collection has grown so much over the years. Several vehicles have been built since the museum was formed and an important part of that is to have facilities that contribute towards the history of the coach works, which was obviously a big local business years ago. It has to be emphasised that the museum is a volunteer-run organisation, and of course funding is going to be the next thing to think about.”
It certainly looks like be an exciting few years ahead of the East Anglia Transport Museum!