SVR seeks hardship relief

8:59am Thursday 24th April 2008

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COUNCILLORS will decide whether to grant hardship relief to Severn Valley Railway to help it get back on track after last summer's torrential downpours.

Members of Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet will meet tonight to decide whether to allow the hardship relief in the 2008/2009 financial year.

The railway was granted hardship rates relief of £18,964 in the 2007/2008 financial year.

Following last summer's downpours, workers and volunteers at the railway found more than 45 incidents where repair work was needed.

The work ranged from culvert clearance to major civil engineering projects at Highley and Northwood Lane.

The cost of the repairs, which was first estimated at £1 million, is now believed to be £3.26 million and despite grant funding there is still a shortfall of £400,000.