The Churnet Valley Railway has announced that it has received a grant worth £283,000 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to help the railway recover from the effects of the Coronavirus and reopen when safe to do so.

Nearly £400m has been awarded as part of the second round of the grant to help thousands of organisations across the UK.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has meant the railway has had to enter hibernations. Ticket sales support the day to day operation of the railway as well as supporting projects such as the Leek Extension.

The award will help projects get back on track as well as settling outstanding refunds and supplier accounts from the Santa and Steam Event that was cancelled in 2020.

23rd June 2021 has been the date set by the Churnet Valley Railway for reopening, which gives enough time for safety checks and maintenance to be carried out as well as the vaccine drive to progress massively.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced. Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP comments : “I am thrilled that the team at the Churnet Valley Railway have been successful in this round of awards from the Cultural Recovery Fund. Covid has affected us all, but the impact on our tourism and hospitality businesses has been most pronounced. This award will help the Churnet Valley Railway to be ready to reopen as soon as they can so that we can all enjoy the fantastic Churnet Valley from one of their heritage trains.”

Gregory Wilson, Managing Director of CVR comments: “We are delighted to receive this award, not only does it reaffirm that we a central part of the heritage scene in the Staffordshire Moorlands, but it also enables us to put the railway on a safe financial footing following the awful year that was 2020. Our volunteers will be relieved that years of hard work will not be wasted. We recognise through our own problems in 2020 the hard work required to keep a business going during the pandemic and therefore the fact the Government has created this, and other funds give us hope that heritage will continue to be a central part of British culture and reaffirms what a central part heritage businesses like ours bring to the tourist economy”

Ros Kerslake, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Spring is definitely here, bringing not only sunshine but that sense of optimism and hope for the future. We are all looking forward to heritage places and other visitor attractions reopening and I am very pleased that we have been able to support DCMS in delivering this vital funding to ensure the UK’s heritage sector can rebuild and thrive, boosting local economies, creating jobs and supporting personal well-being.”

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “The value of our heritage sites and the people who run them has been amply demonstrated, as they have provided an anchor for so many of us through the dark days of the last year. Vital grants from the Culture Recovery Fund have helped them survive and will now help them recover, as the places we all cherish start to reopen in the months ahead.”

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