Funding to repair Oswestry railway station considered

If approved, the work will go out to tender to be completed before March 2025, the council said

Match funding for restoration work on a Grade-II listed heritage railway station is to be considered.

The exterior of the Cambrian Railway building in Oswestry needs repairing after many years of neglect and storm damage led to safety concerns.

Up to 70% of the £900,000 cost of repairs has been secured but 30% must be matched by Shropshire Council.

The authority took possession of the building last year and councillors will meet to discuss the finance this week.

If approved by cabinet members, the work will go out to tender with the restoration being completed before March 2025 to comply with the grant terms, the council said.

'Imperative'

Scaffolding has already been erected around the building due to a number of corbels - a key feature of the building and specifically referenced in the listing by Historic England - becoming loose during a storm in 2022.

Oswestry Station will undergo extensive repairs to help create a long-term use for the site

An inspection by the council's conservation team and surveyors has also identified original slates from the roof have been removed and replaced with tiles made of a ceramic composite which includes asbestos.

They have now become weathered, and the asbestos fibres are exposed requiring their replacement,

Dean Carroll, member for housing and assets, said he hoped the funding was approved for the long term future of the building.

"It is now imperative that the exterior of the building undergoes a restoration to replace the corroded roof tiles and restore and secure the corbels," he said.

"This together with repainting of the building and repairs of the guttering, soffits and drain-pipes is an essential first step to removing the scaffolding and making the building safe to enable it to be re-used and support the regeneration of this part of Oswestry."