More than £92,000 has been awarded to five projects on the Isle of Wight to coincide with the new and improved Island Line.
Projects to improve walking and cycling access to and from stations, and to schemes to address social isolation are among projects to have been awarded funding from South Western Railway.
The improvements could see electric bikes installed at Shanklin Station, an accessible toilet at Ryde Esplanade and digital information display boards at both Shanklin Railway Station and Shanklin Theatre.
Charity, Independent Arts have also been awarded £20,000 for a project aimed at delivering artist-led outreach workshops, with the hope of engaging isolated and disadvantaged Islanders in the local community.
Last September, the government's rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris announced a £26 million investment to improve our trains and railway lines.
You can see what projects are set to benefit from the funding in the table below:
Designed to help boost the local economy, SWR invited bids from its Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) and today (Thursday), the successful projects from across the South Western Railway network have been revealed.
For full details of the successful schemes click here.
Similarly, the Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) will support projects looking at mentoring to young people living in disadvantaged communities, alongside several projects that will look to reduce social isolation amongst the elderly with virtual train trips to build up confidence in using public transport when lockdown eases again.
67 schemes across the country have successfully won funding, and with match funding a requirement of applying for the SWR Customer and Communities Improvement Fund, over £5 million is now set to benefit local community projects.
SWR Commercial and Business Development Director Peter Williams said:
“We at SWR recognise only too well the vital role that rail plays in the local as well as the national economy, and I am delighted that we have been able to further support the communities we serve through this funding.
“The first year’s recipients cover a wide range of, and in many cases innovative, projects, and I look forward to them all coming to fruition.”
The winning proposals were selected by a panel of representatives from SWR’s Social and Commercial Development Board, Transport Focus and SWR’s Board, before final approval by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Engine Problems Lead To Yarmouth RNLI Callout To Osborne Bay
Ryde Academy Students Donate To Two Worthy Causes At Christmas
Road Improvement Works To Get Underway From The Very Start Of The New Year
Isle of Wight Youth Trust Benefits From Big Give Support
Council Chair 'Furious' Over Floating Bridge Replacement Fiasco
Fire Service Travel To Island Contributes To Huge Budget Overspend
Department Approaching Completion In Ryde As Opening Date Announced
Guidance Issued Over Sharps Disposal As Waste Teams At Risk
Police Warnings Over E-Scooters Ahead Of Christmas Day
Controversial Freshwater Housing Proposal Turned Down
Rare Mantis Shrimp Discovery Made In Waters Off Isle Of Wight
Man In 50s Confirmed Dead Following Newport Crash
Pedestrian In Hospital With Serious Injuries Following Early Morning Motorcycle Crash
Cowes Stately Home To Have Facilities Upgraded As Part Of Approved Renovation
Ofsted Deliver Glowing Report For 'Welcoming' And 'Highly Ambitious' Island Primary School
Help Available For Islanders To Cut Energy Bills
Cowes Lifeboat Performs Mid-Solent Rescue Of Fishing Boat
Christmas Shopping With A Difference In Ryde – Half A Mile Out To Sea!
Home-From-Home' Nursery Given 'Outstanding' Ofsted Grade
