CAMPAIGNERS trying to save a village railway station from the bulldozers have completed another important milestone in their quest to turn it into a community hub.
The Friends of Trimley Station have now been granted charitable status, a vital key in the bid to secure grant aid for the £250,000 project.
The group – which has more than 200 members – is also close to agreeing a lease for the 121-year-old Victorian station and brake goods store in Station Road, Trimley St Mary.
The first tasks will be to undertake a full survey of the building and carry out some work to make it weatherproof.
Daniel Mayes, media officer for the Friends of Trimley Station, said: We are now close to signing a lease with Greater Anglia for the refurbishment of the Victorian station buildings.
“We are also now a registered charity, which is fantastic news and paves the way for potential funding applications to help accomplish our aim to refurbish and maintain Trimley railway station.”
The initial lease would be two years in order to enable the group to develop and design the project and seek funding. If this is successful a lease of 25 years would be sought.
The group has already secured a “substantial sum” towards the project from the Railway Heritage Trust, and plans are in hand for a lottery grant bid.
Its aim is to transform the last surviving Great Eastern country station on the Ipswich to Felixstowe line into a cafe, information centre, offices and meeting room.
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