A scheme in South East Cornwall will benefit from a share of £750,000 in the  first year of a Great Western Railway communities improvement fund to support areas of real social need.

Designed to help boost local communities, up to £750,000 a year is available for three years as part of a £2.2 million Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF), and today successful bids for  April 2016 have been announced. 

The fund will see St Germans User Group awarded £50,000 to bring back into use part of the original Brunel designed station of 1859 for use by passengers as a new waiting area and by the local community with the aim to increase wider community interest in the station.

Chair of the St Germans Rail Users Group Lizzie Stroud said: ’We are excited to have been awarded funding for the downside railway  station building. The restoration of the building will be a fabulous facility for rail users and the wider village community, offering a place that will also offer a dual purpose for the community as a place to exhibit local art and history displays. 

’Work on the downside building will also complete the renovation of  the station. St Germans is one of very few Brunel stations to still retain its original design. In the last few years St Germans station has become much improved; new lighting and footbridge, award winning railway carriage accommodation in the siding beside the station, a smart and well-kept garden.’

With match funding, the total investment for the Cornwall scheme is £76,940.