2025 could be an important year for the hopes of creating a tram museum in Blackpool with funding bids currently being prepared to help the \u201cvision\u201d to be achieved. Local Councillor, and Tramtown volunteer, Paul Galley released a New Year video in which he said that they were working behind the scenes on preparing bids which it is hoped will help go towards bringing Tramtown to life.<\/p>\n
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The overall vision for Tramtown has long been that a major visitor attraction will be created on the site of the historic Rigby Road Depot with workshop facilities also being provided to help to maintain and restore the trams for the future. The main tram depot is currently off limits with fears over the condition of the roof and a large part of the cash would be needed to make that good before any consideration is given towards creating a museum.<\/p>\n
Planning permission is already in place to create Tramtown and there have previously been artist impressions of what the attraction could look like. These plans had all workshop facilities moved into the main tram depot but more recent plans for the wider Rigby Road site have seen the current Fitting Shop (which was originally due to be demolished) set to be retained so its not known if that part of it has now changed.<\/p>\n
Bids are set to be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund to help go towards work on the creation of Tramtown.<\/p>\n
Bryan Lindop, Head of Heritage at Blackpool Transport, told the Blackpool Gazette: \u201cTo all those who have contributed to the Tramtown funds over the years, either directly by donation, or indirectly by visiting the workshop tours or purchasing Tramtown merchandise, you have made a significant difference and an invaluable contribution in underpinning our plans and enabling them to move forward. Those funds have always been and will go on being invested in the building and the furtherance of the business case, and all Tramtown funds are in a ring-fenced account and cannot be spent on anything else.<\/p>\n
“All that we have achieved to date, from emergency repairs to the tram shed itself, the architects\u2019 drawings, to the successful planning application for the full scheme, these are all thanks to our faithful supporters and our incredible volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
It has also bee confirmed that there are plans for Tramtown tours to resume later in 2025. These would, again, be centred on the Fitting Shop as there would still be no access to the main depot, although trams can be viewed from the outside. Details of when these tours may resume are expected to follow.<\/p>\n
This news is separate to the operation of heritage trams. As has been widely reported, these were suspended in December 2024 for a number of reasons but Blackpool Transport Managing Director, Jane Cole, has previously said they remain committed to returning them to the tracks in 2025. There are no further updates on what this may look like, if indeed it comes to fruition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
2025 could be an important year for the hopes of creating a tram museum in Blackpool with funding bids currently being prepared to help the \u201cvision\u201d to be achieved. Local Councillor, and Tramtown volunteer, Paul Galley released a New Year … Continue reading