Campaign to complete work on Great Yarmouth’s Grade II listed Vauxhall Bridge

Posted on by Listify Me


A public appeal has been lauched to raise match funding for the renovation of the western span of Vauxhall Bridge.

By Liz Coates
Monday, August 18, 2014

7:00 AM

A fundraising appeal has been launched towards repairing and refurbishing the other half of Great Yarmouth’s historic Vauxhall Bridge, a key gateway into the town from the railway station.

Miriam Kikis, chairperson of Vauxhall Links, helping to kick-start the appeal by handing over a cheque for £1,926 to Mike Taylor, the vice chairman of Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, and Darren Barker, the trust’s project director.

The eastern span of the Grade II-listed landmark structure came back into use following work last year, which saw contractors carry out a full structural repair, re-paint it red, and install a new cycle-way and footbridge.

A number of public and private organisations, and individuals, contributed funding towards the first phase, which totalled £643,000 and was led by the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, a registered charity.

Now the trust is seeking £50,000 to use as match funding in a potential bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other grant aiders for a further £500,000, which will enable the second phase, the western span, to be repaired and refurbished.

Norfolk County Council has offered £10,000 and a further £1,926 has already been raised by the community group Vauxhall Links.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council does not own the bridge – it is owned by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans – but the council supported the first phase both financially and with officer time.

Cllr Bernard Williamson, the chairman of the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, said: “The first phase of the project was only made possible through community support, and this is something I hope will lead to success in securing the vital match funding required for the second phase.

“Vauxhall Bridge is the first iconic heritage structure seen by the thousands of tourists arriving at Great Yarmouth each year, and is again a key gateway from the railway station and Asda to the town centre. But the western span is still gradually deteriorating, so its repair and restoration remain important.”

Miriam Kikis, the chairperson of Vauxhall Links, said: “I would like to thank everyone who donated funds towards the first phase, including Fair Share Trust, Railway Heritage Trust, Asda, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Norfolk County Council, Garfield Western Foundation, and those who gave to Vauxhall Links.

“We now need to raise a further £50,000 to submit a strong bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders. Any donations, no matter how small, are welcomed as the complete refurbishment of this historic landmark is vital for the borough.”

Donations should be made in the form of a cheque make either payable to “Vauxhall Links” and sent to the Seafood Restaurant, 85 North Quay, Great Yarmouth, or payable to “Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust”, and sent to Room 2.2, Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Way, Great Yarmouth.

Currently trending



{{trimHeading(fields.heading)}}

{{fields.description}}

Read full story »

<!–% for (var i = 1; i

» {{trimHeading(fields.heading)}}

1 comment

The views expressed in the above comments do not necessarily reflect the views of this site