Just a few days after we reported that the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust will have to re-home the trams it has stored at Kirkham Prison before the end of the year, comes news of a further negative development which could have serious implications for this organisation and its collection of historic Blackpool trams. This time, it is the vehicles stored at the Fleetwood fish dock which have been placed at risk.
Despite previous suggestions that the FHLT’s ambition to create a new transport attraction in Fleetwood was effectively dead in the water, the Trust are now claiming that the project is still very much alive, albeit under threat once again. Since last year several of their trams have been stored outside on land owned by the Associated British Ports, and thus far this has not been at any cost to the Trust. However, that looks set to change soon as Wyre Council has informed them that they plan to impose a back-dated rateable value of around £12,000 on the land, and the Trust will be expected to pay a percentage of this. Although as a registered charity they will qualify for an 80% discount, an appeal for a further reduction has been rejected leaving the FHLT with a bill of more than £2,000 to pay for the storage of its trams. The cars stored at the fish docks are Centenary car 643, Ex-Towing car 678, privately owned Trailer 683 and Balloons 710 and 726.
Normally statements from the Trust come from John Woodman, but on this occasion it was fellow Trustee Frank Heald who spoke to the local press. He told the Fleetwood Weekly News that this bill could bankrupt the Trust unless it sells off some of its trams, which would seriously compromise its aims. He added that the Trust is considering taking the matter to Court and that they will not pay the fee as a matter of principle. However, Wyre Council are proving equally reluctant to budge on the matter, with a spokesperson stating: “any further discretionary relief would have to be paid for by local council tax payers and has therefore traditionally been awarded to only two organisations that ensure the safety of those at sea”. As the Trust’s plans to create a local visitor attraction have not made significant progress and a suitable location, along with the required funding, is still being sought, the Council is therefore reluctant to offer further support at cost to local residents.
As has been said before, the aims of the newly formed Blackpool Heritage Trust to create a new museum attraction lined to the tramway itself, in which to display a far more comprehensive collection of heritage Blackpool tramcars, has rendered the FHLT’s aims rather less relevant than was the case when they initially left Rigby Road, and the continued lack of backing from either local Councils or enthusiasts suggests that any such venture is unlikely to ever become a reality. Whilst the FHLT was formed with admirable intentions, in the opinion of your writer it is now time for the Fleetwood museum project to be formally abandoned, and the trams collected to either be offered to other preservation groups free of charge, or put up for sale – depending on where the Trust’s priorities lie. Having two tram museums on the Fylde Coast is hardly likely to benefit anyone and it is difficult to see the Fleetwood attraction generating much support with a similar rival potentially so nearby. It is also difficult to see how a group that cannot afford to pay a fairly modest £2,000 rent fee (presumably to be paid annually) will ever have the resources to restore its vehicle collection or create suitable premises in which they can be displayed to the public, leaving a large question mark hanging over their short-term future.
Its inevitable that despite the best of intentions that this groups ambitious plans will no longer come to fruition. Id urge the trustees of their collection to dispose of the collection in a way that maximises the potential of the individual tramcars. Whether its spare parts or filling gaps at other places anything is better than them been disposed in disorderly default.
The group came into existence with noble intentions like so many at time when blackpool tramways future looked uncertain. Id urge them to offer the trams free of charge to any group (regardless of past differences) & offer look to dispose of the rest in a way that preservation gets maximum use of the parts.
I hope circles dont dwell on this news though. So much positive news along the Fylde Coast at the moment. Just seen pictures of 701 in the workshop now virtually finished. Bryan and Co continue to make huge steps forward.
FHLT has not only ceased to be a viable operation but is not now even a viable distraction. Time to wave goodbye and move on, and put our support behind the genuine Trust.
it shame the tram’s can’t be loaned to 2nd generation tram companies
I can’t see any second generation system having any interest in taking any of them on. They couldn’t be used anyway as none of them have track brakes which are now a requirement.
None of them really have any significance as they duplicate examples elsewhere. Even 761 isn’t really that important as the differences to 762 are minor. I’m sorry to be so negative about something that seems to raise so much passion but there does now seem to be an excess of Blackpool cars in various states and locations many of which have no hope of running. Isn’t it time to cut the duplication and concentrate the scarce resources on the ones that are secure.
I do agree with you to a certain extent, although I believe that 761 is worth saving as it is actually quite different from 762. Also as 762 is part of the national collection now, 761 potentially provides an opportunity for a Jubilee car to run on its native tracks as a permanent part of Blackpool’s own heritage tram collection.
As for the others though – my heart says try to save as many as possible – but my head says that most, if not all of them should be scrapped. I just hope any parts that are of use to other tramway groups won’t go to waste if that happens.
As long as 621, 761 and 641 are saved this doesn’t really matter.
I think even that’s being a bit optimistic really, but we can hope! 761 is definitely the most important one from the collection by far though, and will hopefully remain where it is!
Does 643 still have the cafe fittings? If so it would be useful to park up at pleasure beach on Heritage weekends. I’m sure it would be popular with the passengers and a fantastic earner for the heritage trust as there is no shelter and only the expensive pleasure beach food outlets nearby.
No permission exists to sell food on the Pleasure Beach loops and undoubedly the Pleasure Beach company would place a strong objection to protect their monopoly of the area.
Why?
Do they own the loop?
Pretty much. They own the covenant. Historically that is why Pleasure Beach became a destination name incidentaly. .
Why do some tram enthusiasts have to be so pessimistic…761 being absorbed in to the heritage fleet is basically a given at this point, it’s already at Rigby Road and I can’t see BTS let it be sold for scrap. As for the rest, I’m sure positive outcomes will come for most, Beamish has substantial off site storage space and could do with a few more all weather trams, Crich will have space for at least one more once the visitors go home, NEET have loads of space, and of course Rigby Road isn’t quite full. Also, what would it cost to have track brakes and low-voltage equipment fitted to a tram? Historic trams in major cities is a great idea and could really increase awareness of tram preservation, the day a first generation tram operates on a second-generation system is definitely coming. 765 to MediaCity UK, anyone?
Nathan
Pessimism or realism. So far only three out of about 40 redundant trams have been scrapped and there isn’t the resource to keep them going. So far only one has had a significant restoration (607) rather than overhauls/cosmetic work of various examples.
I struggle to see how long term preservation of most vehicles can be sustained.
Paul
I’m with you Nathan.
This has echos of Dai Woodhams yard. Many of the locos rescued from there are still patiently waiting for restoration. I don’t hear many people saying we should scrap them