North Lowestoft Men’s Shed has become the custodian of the former Lowestoft railway cattle dock, and plans to transform it into a community space.

Situated off Denmark Road, Lowestoft, the land has been unused for several decades and presents an opportunity for the Men’s Shed to expand, enabling them to utilise the land for a variety of uses whilst helping to preserve the unique mix of wildlife and railway heritage.

The Men’s Sheds Association describes these sheds as “community spaces for men to connect, converse and create”, claiming that they “reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness, they allow men to deal with mental health challenges more easily and remain independent, they rebuild communities and in many cases, they save men’s lives.” Southminster station, also in East Anglia, opened a Men’s Shed last year.

North Lowestoft Men’s Shed is holding its first open meeting on Wednesday 19 April at 11am, at the Parcel’s Office, Lowestoft railway station, as an opportunity to hear what the Shed is about, what it is doing now and its dreams for the future, followed by a tour of the new land.

The new community space is being developed in collaboration with Greater Anglia, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project.

Shed Chair, John Ellerby, said; “We’re really pleased to have secured the land and look forward welcoming new members, and to working with Greater Anglia, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project.

“Our next step will be to get a container on the land – our Shed – and our first job will be to create a hard standing for it.”

Martin Halliday, Community Rail Norfolk development officer, said; “We are delighted to have facilitated use of the former cattle dock at Lowestoft station and are certain the Men’s Shed will be able to develop a fantastic community resource there, complementing other initiatives around the station being undertaken through the Lowestoft Central Project, Community Rail Partnership, Network Rail and Greater Anglia.”

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Community and Customer Engagement Manager, said; “Our station adoption scheme is 20 years old this year with the vast majority of our stations now adopted. The Men’s Shed initiative at Lowestoft is very welcome and will see another unused section of railway land brought back into use, supporting both the community and wildlife.”