We had initially been somewhat mystified by the ministerial announcement on 28th Jan about £1.5m DfT funding for the Ashington Re-opening. But today we got re-assuring clarification from the County Council. This funding does not mean yet another study must be completed. It is a contribution towards work already in the pipeline; the bid already submitted to the DfT’s “Transforming Cities” Fund still stands and a decision is still hopefully expected in March. SENRUG understands that if the decision is positive, the final hurdle is cleared and Phase 1 of the re-opening is then confirmed. The Council does not need to apply to the new £500m “Beeching Reversal” Fund, for the phase 1 re-opening, though may possibly qualify for some of this money to deliver future phases.
