SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY IN LINE FOR MORE EU REPAIR HELP

10.47.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Sep 2007

The stricken Severn Valley Railway has been included in the UK's application to the EU Solidarity Fund for emergency aid after the recent flooding disaster, LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne can confirm.

Liz Lynne, whose West Midlands Region constituency includes the SVR, wrote to Local Government Minister John Healey on the 7th of August to urge it to be included in the bid. She has now received a reply from the Minister confirming its inclusion.

Liz Lynne said: "This is fantastic news for all those whose livelihoods depend on the railway. I was most anxious that the enormous cost of repair to this major attraction and important part of the local economy was included in the bid so I am delighted to receive the Minister's reply."

The UK's application for £2.9 billion from the Solidarity Fund will discussed by the European Parliament, its Budget Committee and the Council of Ministers in the next few months. It will then be voted on by all MEPs.

Liz added: "I hope that the application will be dealt with quickly and that help will be forthcoming. In the aftermath of flooding in the UK and Eastern Europe, and the Greek forest fires, I have recently been calling for a streamlining of the rules and application process for the EU Solidarity fund to enable aid to get to where it is needed more quickly."

The Severn Valley Railway is vital to the tourist economy of North Worcestershire and East Shropshire and was severely damaged by the floods at the height of the tourist season. Large parts of the route are closed for repairs and it is not expected to reopen until February.

Commenting further, Liz said: "If the Solidarity Fund bid is approved it will add to the £1.5 million that has so far been made available by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Advantage West Midlands to stabilise and protect the railway. I understand that Advantage West Midlands have also made a further £350,000 to aid the recovery of the local tourism industry through marketing and publicity."