Bus charity at risk of disbanding after depot loss

Chairman Craig Smith said he would "exhaust all options" before disbanding the group

A bus restoration charity said it is at risk of folding after its rent-free base was sold.

The Northern National Restoration Group (NNRG), which preserves vintage buses, had hoped to buy the former Sunderland Corporation Tramways power station in Houghton-le-Spring.

Chairman Craig Smith said charity members were "devastated" that they had not managed to raise £50,000 to purchase the building and had until December to find a "donated or low-cost" base.

Landlord Philadelphia Properties Ltd said it had reduced the building's purchase price twice and offered additional deadlines, but that there was no "viable prospect" of the charity buying the base.

The charity, which has been at the site since 2019, runs day trips for care home residents and people with autism.

It said it was told last week that the building had been sold to a tyre business.

Mr Smith said if new premises could not be found, the charity would have to disband and sell its fleet of nine buses.

"It has been absolutely devastating," he said.

"It's not just the buses, it's the wider community that's going to suffer."

The charity has been running since 2006

A spokesperson for Philadelphia Properties said the group had been occupying the building rent-free since about 2021.

"We have made every effort to provide very favourable terms for the lease of the building for six years, as well as lengthening the timeline for NNRG to source the funds to buy the building.

"However, we have no viable prospect of a sale, and have had to explore alternative options," the spokesperson said.

The charity was set up in 2006 and has about 15 volunteers. Its oldest bus dates back to 1981.

Mr Smith said all his family was involved in the group, including his 85-year-old father, who is the oldest member.

"This isn't just a shed that's full of buses, it's a fully working bus depot now," Mr Smith said.

"It's a huge support for the community.

"The only thing we haven't got is our own fueling facilities."

Volunteer Mark said people were "holding back tears" when they heard about the base being sold

Volunteer Mark, 16, said group members "didn't really know how to react" when they found out the news.

"It was quite hard. We all had tears in our eyes," he said.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with my free time."

Mr Smith said he would fight to preserve the charity until "every last possible option" was exhausted.

He said the group was a "vital part of the region's transport history" and also had archives and old tickets in its collection.

"Bus restoration and bus preservation isn't just about the vehicles," Mr Smith said.

"It's about the people and the characters and the tenacity that's behind it all."