Funding appeal launched by Northumberland railway attraction to stave off closure

Heatherslaw Light Railway, on Ford and Etal Estates, has launched a fund-raising appeal as it sets out to raise £8,000 to keep it going over the next few months.

The attraction, which pulls in around 29,000 visitors a year, has been forced to close to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Managing director Paul Smith has outlined the precarious position the business now finds itself in with no prospect of any income for some time.

“As with many seasonal tourist attractions, the coronavirus pandemic has hit us at the worst time possible,” he explained.

“We normally rely on funds we get through the summer to see us through the winter when we work hard on track and engine maintenance.

“We had planned to open at Easter and pay off some of that debt. We were maxed out on our overdraft as we normally are at that time of the year but then came lockdown and we couldn’t do anything.”

He has applied for Government assistance but it only covers a small portion of the lost revenue.

“Although we employ 6.5 people and have a turnover of £185,000 we could only get a £10,000 grant because they work it out on rateable value,” he explained.

“With the work we do on the track and rolling stock and salaries to pay, that £10,000 doesn’t go too far.

“We got in touch with Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP but heard that there’s no flexibility on that.”

The company is selling off as much as it can, including railway memorabilia, but Paul came to the conclusion that public backing was the only way to make ends meet.

“It was becoming obvious to me that no matter what we tried to sell or save, it wouldn’t be enough,” he said.

“We’re going to miss the whole of April and there’s a fair chance the whole of May. As an outdoor attraction, we’re hoping that we’ll be allowed to reopen at the summer goes on with social distancing in place but that obviously restricts the number of people we can get in.

“If we can’t open until August we unfortunately just wouldn’t have enough money to pay the bills. We have already furloughed our workers but we want to keep our skilled staff so they can start work again when we get the all clear.”

He also fears that by the end of the visitor season he may have to put staff on short-time hours.

“That’s why this fund-raising appeal was the last throw of the dice,” he said. “I’m not familiar with Crowdfunding and not particularly comfortable with asking people for financial support but the alternative is that, after 30 years as a family business, we would be unable to survive.”

However, he has been taken aback by the donations and messages of support, with over £2,300 pledged within 24 hours.

“The response has been amazing,” he said. “It’s actually moved me to tears.

“We hope this is not the end for Heatherslaw Light Railway.”

To donate, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-the-heatherslaw-light-railway-company

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