£150,000 needed for heritage trams' return

Transport bosses in Blackpool have warned the resort's famous heritage trams will not return to the promenade unless about £150,000 can be found.

The volunteer-led service was suspended by council-owned Blackpool Transport in December due to safety fears.

A workshop has been altered to house the historical vehicles as part of the Tramtown exhibition centre.

But head of heritage at Blackpool Transport Bryan Lindop said: "At this moment we can't run any trams, we've got no income, and we need some money."

Mr Lindop said: "We need at least £150,000 to spend on various people who can do all the work that we need."

He added funding was needed to contribute "to the long-term plan to ensure that our tram cars survive and can go on in perpetuity", and towards "getting [the trams] back on the seafront where they belong".

For the heritage trams to be able to access the Promenade, they need to also operate out of Starr Gate - the working depot at South Shore where the mainline trams are, instead of the Rigby Road depot, where they are currently housed as part of the Tramtown visitor attraction.

Blackpool Council said: "We are working with Blackpool Transport Services on a solution that would aim to see the heritage trams return as a feature during the Lightpool festival.

"In order for the trams to operate solely from Starr Gate depot, complex operational issues need to be overcome."

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