| 24th March 2008 - The End of the
Wivenhoe Engine Shed Project
Several
serious attempts have been made over the last fourteen years to save the
Goods Shed; an industrial grade II listed building in Wivenhoe adjacent to
the Wivenhoe railway station. The plan has been to acquire the building
for much needed community arts and heritage use. Wivenhoe
has seen a massive increase in population over the last few years with
many new houses still being built on the site previously occupied by the
Ship Yard. Additional community space is in great demand. The
project team set up a company limited by guarantee to manage a charitable
trust The Wivenhoe Engine Shed Trust (WEST). A local architect was
commissioned and he produced a very imaginative scheme.
The project has had a series of setbacks all mainly relating to
raising the funds - something approaching a million pounds. This is in
spite of having a pledge of support from the Railway Heritage Trust of one
hundred thousand pounds and other smaller pledges from Wivenhoe Town
Council and Colchester Borough Council. The
Arts Lottery gave the project a flat rejection some years ago and the
Lottery Heritage grants of the magnitude we need are getting ever more
difficult to obtain. Without
having the certainty of the funding it has also proved difficult to get
Network Rail to sign the “Heads of Terms” for the lease of the
property. The
directors of the WEST have reluctantly decided to discontinue the project.
They would like to extend
their thanks to all those who have supported the project in so many ways
over the years. It has been decided, with its supporters’ group and
major contributors, to ensure that any funds that remain available will be
used for Wivenhoe community arts / heritage related activities that meet
the requirements of the terms the registered charity.
The
roof structure of the building is decaying fast. Network Rail shored up
the building to prevent a total collapse and enclosed it with fencing for
safety purposes. The likely
course of events is that the building will continue to decay and before
long Network Rail will seek permission to pull it down to extend the
station car park. The
registered company will remain for a short period just in case a credible
attempt is made to save the building by another group and a ready made
company and all the present project documentation may be useful. If
anyone is interested in putting a team together to explore the prospect of
resurrecting the project and raising the necessary funds, they should
contact Peter Cook (01206 823120) or 24th
March 2008 For more information about the Engine Shed Project, click here |