The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has been awarded £1 million from the government's Community Ownership Fund.
The cash, from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will secure the future for the heritage railway and allow the organisation to complete the much-needed rebuild of Bridge 27 at Haworth.
Originally built in 1867 and partially reconstructed in 1889, the bridge had reached the end of its useful life. Closure would have meant cutting the railway line in half, causing huge social and economic impacts to the area.
Planning for the renewal started around 10 years ago, after major flooding in 2015 the KWVR changed its plan in order to develop a more sustainable long-term plan which involves removing the central pier under the structure to improve the flow in the river.
The current plan involves the installation of ten 16m deep piles, 5 on each side of the river, behind the existing bridge abutments in May 2024.
The existing bridge will be demolished before the piles installed in May are exposed and new foundations installed. Due to site constraints, we are having to use a steel deck rather than the cheaper reinforced concrete deck. This will be lifted into position in one piece by a 500-ton crane.
Once complete, the KWVR will have a new bridge with a 120-year design life.
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway receives the largest grant of any project announced as part of round three of the £150m Community Ownership Fund, which aims to support incorporated voluntary and community organisations, and parish, town and community councils to take ownership of assets at risk of loss in the community.
Speaking about the news, Keighley & Ilkley MP Robbie Moore MP: “So much planning and hard work has gone into Keighley & Worth Valley’s Railway’s bid for funding and I was so proud to champion this bid with Ministers at the Department for Levelling Up and Communities and in Parliament.
"This million-pound funding from the government is another huge win for Keighley this year and our iconic Keighley & Worth Valley railway, which contributes more than £15 million per year to our area.
"This move will secure KWVR’s place in our community long into the future and it yet another long-term step from the government focussed on protecting our town’s heritage. I’m delighted to see a government listening to our town again.”
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