Grade II-listed railway station repair going ahead

The Grade II-listed Cambrian Railway building on Oswald Road has been shrouded in scaffolding since it was damaged by a storm in 2022

A £900,000 project to restore a historic railway building will go ahead after Shropshire Council agreed to fund it.

The authority voted to provide £270,000 in match funding for the Cambrian Railway building in Oswestry.

The total cost is estimated to be £900,000, with a government grant providing the remainder.

The restoration work will see the Grade II-listed building made safe as well as returning it to the way it was in its "heyday".

Cambrian Heritage Railways said it was delighted repair work would be carried out, after neglect and storm damage left the building covered in scaffolding for two years.

Asbestos roof tiles will be removed and replaced, the building painted and decorative features repaired.

The council, which owns the property, has also committed to work on the building's interior, which does not have heating and is poorly insulated.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the authority gave permission to proceed with the restoration project, which will go out to tender.

Restoration must be completed before March 2025 to comply with grant terms.

Damaged corbels, guttering, soffits and drainpipes will be repaired and repainted

In October last year the government announced it would provide funding to restore Oswestry's rail link to mainline services at Gobowen.

The council’s “Future Oswestry Plan” stated the Cambrian Railway building would become a “key transport hub and interchange", with café and toilet facilities.

Dean Carroll, county council cabinet member for housing and assets, said the authority's funding would secure a “viable long-term use” for the building.

“It has long been a cornerstone of regeneration efforts within Oswestry and particularly the station gateway quarter that we restore the building to its heyday," he said.

"That was the reasoning behind us taking back control of the building so that we can bring the project forward.”