Blackpool's Tramtown, a heritage tram restoration project at Rigby Road Tram Depot, is closing permanently after the building was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable. The closure follows months of uncertainty and despite recent financial support to address earlier safety concerns.
The site of Blackpool 's Tramtown attraction will permanently close after months of uncertainty, a councillor has announced. Last April, following concerns about the maintenance of early heritage trams , Tramtown opened up at the historic Rigby Road Tram Depot, in a mission to restore iconic trams to their former glory.
However, after months of threats to close the site, Councillor Paul Galley, Tramtown's Volunteer Co-ordinator, has now announced the sites permanent closure. With the building now being described as 'uninhabitable', it is now deemed unsafe for the public to visit the museum to see the heritage trams. This development follows financial support from Blackpool South's MP Chris Webb in February, when he helped secure enough money to fix an electric fault to ensure the building was safe for to open.
In a video posted to Youtube, Councillor Paul Galley said: 'A lot of people have been asking as to why this building is closed, why Google is saying it's permanently closed, and I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the narrative of all the things that have been going on behind the scenes.
'So, the first thing to tell you is Blackpool Transport has a new managing director. You may be aware it also has a new heritage manager. So I've organized a meeting with those two gentlemen and a number of council staff and in that meeting the following things were confirmed to me.
'The first thing we were told is that the building, the fitting shop, is uninhabitable. Now that raises a lot of questions around why were the volunteers of Trowntown? Why were the public allowed in? Why have recent times the member of parliament, the council leader all been allowed in when it's uninhabitable?
And those are questions that probably everybody should be asking.
'Other questions that will be asked are why Chris Webb's pride of place money was spent on that building fixing the electrical issues that we were told were the problem only for it to find that it's not the problem anymore. It's the fact it's uninhabitable and that this is public money that was spent.
'So without the fitting shop, Tramtown has the end of the line here at Riby Road. ' Councillor Galley went onto explain that there are now proposals to do a series of funding bids for the tram shed as he asked what has happened to all the money that's been donated to the project. He also alleged that volunteers at the site, who he described as Tramtown's 'core part', only found out about the closure after seeing it on Google.
Adding that he is yet to recieve answers, he said: 'What I'm saying to everybody is no longer donate any more money to Tramtown until those questions are answered and I will continue to hold the new heritage managers to account um around where that money has gone.
' He continued: ' been no updates. I didn't find out until somebody showed me. And that's definitely been the approach all along really. It's been really poor.
'It was only when I chased and was able to get that meeting finally that I was able to update them with the terrible news that Tram Town here is is going to be permanently closed. And that is so sad. They deserve better. They've put so much effort into this.
'Without the volunteers, there would be no tram town, and that's been so painful to see how badly they've been treated. So, how does that leave me after five years giving my all, the founder of Tram Town, somebody who just saw that this had a great opportunity?
' He added: 'I gave it everything I could. I couldn't have given it any more, but it is the end of the line.
' Blackpool Council have been contacted for comment. Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox
Blackpool Tramtown Heritage Trams Closure Building Safety
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man wears Blackpool Tower costume to run 10th London MarathonTony Howarth, 67, who completed the race in 4 hours 46 minutes, has raised £70,000 over the years.
Read more »
Man left with serious injuries following collision in BlackpoolTwo people have been arrested following the incident
Read more »
Attempted murder investigation launched after car mounts pavement in BlackpoolA 28-year-old man has been seriously injured
Read more »
Two attempted murder arrests after Blackpool man hit by carA man is seriously injured after a car mounted the pavement and struck him on Condor Grove in Blackpool.
Read more »
Blackpool Council Turns CQC ‘Inadequate’ Rating into Catalyst for Adult Social Care ReformsFollowing a damning CQC report last year, Blackpool Council has implemented a comprehensive improvement plan for its Adult Social Care services, focusing on leadership, mental health support, and governance. The council has invested £1 million to strengthen its team and enhance service delivery, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the report’s findings and improving care standards.
Read more »
May buys nine foot Blackpool Pleasure Beach statue for his gardenKyle Wilcock says when he saw a giant statue of a miner on sale he knew he just had to have it.
Read more »