Earlier this year, we reported on the launch of Blackpool Transport’s crowdfunder to raise £1 million to repair Rigby Road Depot’s roof. Now three months down the line and a further update with details of what they are trying to achieve has been released whilst at the same time it appears that some work has started on the structure of the depot with some of the cladding along the top having recently been removed. Alongside that there have been Community Clean Up Events around the depot – and there will be a chance to see and hear what is going on with the plan that there will be the first of weekly guided tours on 25th September during the Anniversary weekend.
The final intention is that the current tram shed is converted into a Heritage Visitor Centre but that is a long-term aspiration and many things need to happen before that. On top of the crowdfunder there remains work going on behind the scenes including work on obtaining grant funding (which is likely to be complicated by the lack of charitable status) as well as engaging with the local community across the Fylde Coast.
As we saw back in June the aim of the major fundraising campaign was to raise £1 million to help repair the roof of the depot which is a very bad condition. At the time Blackpool Transport admitted that the roof currently lets in “torrents of water” and considering that the fleet of heritage trams lives under there that raises concerns for their future retention in the pristine condition we have become used to.
With the bus depot at Rigby Road undergoing redevelopment in the coming years it will also be necessary to move the heritage workshop equipment over to the tram shed as well, but with the current condition of the roof this is not possible.
Although £1 million may have been the ultimate goal for the Crowdfunder there were also several other milestones in the campaign with the first of these £10,000 which would allow them to replace all the guttering and to provide a short-term solution to the ongoing damage which is being caused by the inadequate and damaged guttering in place now. With £11,549 having been raised at the time of writing it appears that as that first milestone has been reached that work at the front of the depot has now commenced with the cladding having been noted being removed.
That’s not all that has gone on at the depot recently though as on 24th August the first volunteer clean up event took place with over 20 volunteers, including Cllr Paul Galley, Blackpool Transport Chair, volunteers from Blackpool FC Community Trust and many more. They tackled everything from weeding to painting and rubbish disposal. A further clean-up event is due to take place on Thursday 9th September between 1000 and 1600. Anyone who wants to get involved can contact the Heritage Tram Tours team at heritage@blackpooltransport.com.
And if you want to find out more about the plans you can join special guided depot tours which will give more details. The first of these is due to take place during Anniversary Weekend on 25th September and will then happen every week thereafter.
- Full details of the crowdfunder and how you can donate are available at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vital-funds-to-continue-running-heritage-trams
The cladding from the front of the depot has now started to be removed as seen in this view. It appears the old cladding is piled up on the right. (Photograph taken 6th September 2021)