Funds appeal to bring land train to tourist town

Knaresborough's land train would follow in the tracks of other similar vehicles in towns such as Weymouth in Dorset (pictured)

Funds are being sought to try and get plans to launch a land train service in Knaresborough back on track.

An appeal has been issued after an application to York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for a £24,000 grant was rejected due to concerns over the scheme's viability, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The grant would have paid for a 10-day trial to test whether a land train service would work in the town.

Knaresborough & District Chamber, which submitted the bid, is now seeking alternative funding to get the service moving.

It was hoped a land train could increase the number of visitors travelling between the riverside area and the town centre.

"We get a lot of coach visits who come into the car park at the top end, wander around the marketplace, occasionally find the castle," said North Yorkshire Council's Peter Lacey.

The councillor, who is also a member of the chamber's executive team, continued: "They're not going to venture down to the riverside because they'll struggle to get back up."

Funding of £15,000 was agreed last year by the local authority towards a trial of the service, but this money had to be returned due to delays with the project.

As well as the hire of a vehicle for the trial, the grant would have paid for a risk assessment to secure necessary permissions to operate the land train.

Councillor Lacey said the project was "in the sidings" at present, but funding of £2,000 could help to deliver it.

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