Ashfield Successful in securing Restoring Railways Funding
Ashfield District Council has been successful in securing up to £50,000 funding for the next stage of the government’s Restoring your Railway Ideas Fund.
The Council, with the support of the Member of Parliament, were granted the money as part of the governments Restoring your Railway Fund. The fund supports projects looking to reinstate axed local rail services and restore closed stations.
The £50,000 will allow the proposal to better connect Ashfield and wider rural communities through the reopening of the Maid Marian Line, to move one step nearer towards becoming a reality.
The bid offers benefits of wider regional transport connectivity and positive climate action and has the support of neighbouring local authorities, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils.
The funding will be used to prepare a strategic outline business case for the submission to the government by the end of June 2021.
Cllr Matthew Relf, Cabinet Member for Place and Communities said:
“We are delighted to be able to announce that we have received this funding. The reopening of the Maid Marion line is something the Council has been championing for some time. The benefits to Ashfield of opening the line would be phenomenal, linking rural areas to the main transport hubs in the District, County and across the country.”