With the summer season getting under way, Wyre Forest starts another year of showing off our amazing tourist attractions.
We are all familiar with the sight of steam trains moving along the Severn Valley Railway and we are all familiar with the crowds the railway can attract on special days. But what is less well known is just how significant the SVR is in the world of heritage railways. Last week, the SVR formerly opened its new diesel engine repair shed. I say shed: it is, by any standards, a significant piece of modern engineering that can service up to six diesel locomotives at any time. It is significant that at the opening, there was not one but two brand new locomotives in attendance, as well as the heritage ones. This adds to the compliment of steam locomotive repair depot at Bridgenorth and the carriage repair depot at Kidderminster. There is also the visitor and education centre at Highley. The SVR is building on its success as one of the biggest heritage railways in the country, in terms of visitor numbers, trains, turnover and, impressively, volunteers. The SVR is pioneering a new apprentice scheme to train steam and diesel engineers of the future – a vital necessity if the magic of steam trains is to be kept alive for future generations. And with any achievement, the crowning glory has been an award this week to develop innovative disabled access to a dining carriage and passenger carriage that will ensure permanent disabled access to the trains. This was awarded through a Dragon’s Den event at the Department of Transport which I, in my capacity as chair of the All Party Heritage Railway Group, chaired (although for obvious reasons, declined to vote for the SVR award).
Alongside the SVR, we have a premier safari park – the West Midlands Safari Park. This has pioneered a range of animal protection and conservation schemes and has recently added a baby rhino to their stock. It is continuously looking at better ways to attract visitors and is about to embark on a multi million pound expansion, creating jobs and opportunities – all the while working with local community groups to mitigate any local impact.
Wyre Forest really does have a huge amount to offer, not just to visitors, but to the widespread communities that enjoy our terrific local facilities.