Express & Star

Final push for Bridgnorth SVR shares offer as drive breaks £2 million barrier

The Severn Valley Railway is on the final push for funding to transform its Bridgnorth site after breaking the £2 million barrier.

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Bridgnorth Station

The Bridgnorth share offer has smashed the milestone, with a staggering £107,000 coming in on just one day.

With less than a fortnight to go before the share offer campaign closes, share applications are flooding in at their

fastest rate ever, with Tuesday seeing the highest daily total of the entire, year-long campaign.

The railway's Bridgnorth share offer closes on October 31 and the SVR is urging anyone who is thinking of buying shares in the project to apply as soon as possible, so that applications can be processed before time runs out.

The total needed is £2.5 million, meaning the project is now just £500,000 short.

All money raised will go to the transformation of Bridgnorth Station site – the biggest redevelopment project in the SVR’s history.

Chris Thomas Station Master stands among the ongoing construction work.

The Bridgnorth Share Offer campaign was launched in November last year, with the entire proceeds destined to provide improved visitor facilities, access and parking at the Railway’s Northern terminus, and conserve the Grade II listed, neo-Jacobean station, built in 1862.

Money raised so far will pay for phase one of the ambitious project, covering the construction of a brand new refreshment room and toilet building, refurbishment and renovation of the existing station building and the first part of an extensive tree-planting scheme.

But they also need to fund phase two, which includes the installation of a locomotive turntable, the creation of additional car parking, a new access road, extensive tree-planting and landscaping.

Long-standing volunteer and SVR board member Tony Bending said: “To have reached the £2million milestone is absolutely tremendous – everyone is extremely excited and we have our fingers firmly crossed that this amazing

volume of applications carries on into the campaign’s final few days.

“Thank you so much to those who have purchased so far – each share purchased is moving us nearer to achieving all the wonderful plans we have for our much-loved Bridgnorth Station, making it an even better place for people to visit, whilst protecting and preserving it into the future.”

In a post on social media, the railway said: "Thank you to all our supporters who have generously purchased shares so far, together we can do this.

"If 5,000 of our 28,265 followers on Facebook purchase £100 of shares, we can smash the £2.5 million target to ensure our Bridgnorth dream becomes a reality.

Shares can be purchased from October 21 to 29 at Kidderminster and Bridgnorth Stations with cash, cheque or card from 10am to 4pm.

Or, contact the SVR on 01562 757900, using option two daily to find out more.

For more information, and to download a prospectus, visit svr.co.uk/ShareOffer