PEOPLE trying to restore the canopy to Bradford on Avon railway station footbridge have received commitments totalling £15,000 to kick-start the scheme.

Offers of financial support have rolled in following their talk to members of the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust back in February.

The money will be used to kick-start the design stage of the project, which is being spearheaded by Bradford on Avon Footbridge Canopy Partnership.

Its spokesman, Peter Mann, said: “Following our successful talk to the Preservation Trust, we have received a number of offers from local individuals to provide finance towards getting the design stage done.

“We also have more expertise on the team. We have now have a proper chair and treasurer and we are applying to set ourselves up as a charity.”

The new chairman is David Moss, a former Railtrack director who was chairman of the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust for more than ten years.

The group’s treasurer is David Cowles, who is also the new treasurer of the BoA Preservation Trust.

The group is designing a website and setting up an email address so that supporters can contact them.

Mr Mann added: “Our new chairman, David Moss, has recently stepped down from being chairman of the Preservation Trust. He has a lot of experience and expertise, which is a great addition for us.”

The group has organised a meeting on Tuesday, June 12 at the station with Network Rail, Oxford Architects and Dave Redfern, a heritage railway engineering consultant. Paul Childs, the new company secretary of the Railway Heritage Trust, will also attend.

Mr Mann added: “The Railway Heritage Trust remain supportive, but can only consider a grant for the build and installation, not the design.

“Getting the design done is the vital next step, now made possible by the offers of financial assistance.”

The group is also trying to persuade Great Western Railway, the station managers, to provide representatives.

Mr Mann added: “The man we need is Dan Okey, Regional Development Manager at GWR, but he seems too busy to respond at present.

“We have also invited James Wilcox, the GWR Stations Manager based at Westbury.”