Two government ministers visit the scheme. First, on Monday 6th January, came Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps, and then later, on 28th January, Minister of State Chris Heaton-Harris arrived, announcing £1.5m towards the re-opening, on the same day that a £500m “Beeching Reversal” fund was also announced. There was initial confusion amongst campaigners about the £1.5m as SENRUG feared it meant yet another study was required, or that a new funding application needed to be made to the Beeching Reversal Fund. Subsequent clarification from the County Council confirmed neither is the case. The £1.5m is to contribute to work already underway; the application to the “Transforming Cities” fund submitted the previous November still stands, with the decision still expected by March 2020. The Beeching Reversal Fund is for new schemes, although could possibly be appropriate for phase 2 of the re-opening, which the Council again confirmed they are progressing as quickly as possible.
