For further information: Laura Matthews, Wyre Power 07786 326509

POULTON & WYRE RAILWAY SOCIETY ON TRACK FOR EARLY £500 CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM WYRE POWER COMMUNITY CHEST

The Poulton & Wyre Railway Society has been awarded the top grant of £500 in the latest Wyre Power Community Chest, which will be used to complete the picket fence along the platform at Thornton Station.  The Society, formed in 2006, aims to reinstate the branch railway line from Poulton to Fleetwood as a community railway with railway heritage interest.

Peter Trussler, Development Director of Wyre Power said: “Poulton & Wyre Railway Society are worthy winners of this award, and we wish them every success with their project.  Once again there was a very string field of entrants, and I would like to thank the Wyre Strategic Partnership for their expertise in selecting the good causes the benefit.”

Rick Rossall, Poulton & Wyre Railway Society (PWRS) said: “I would like to thank the Wyre Strategic Partnership for selecting the society for the Wyre Power Community Chest Award.  The award will be used in conjunction with our picket fence renewal project to give safe access along the Thornton Station platform. This project will also enhance the appearance of the Thornton Station site which has undergone a tremendous transformation due to the efforts of the PWRS volunteers.”

Each quarter, Wyre Power, Welsh Power’s proposed 850MW gas-fired power station development at the Hillhouse International Business Park at Thornton Cleveleys, awards the Wyre Power Community Chest, a fund worth £5,000 a year that is designed to support people in, who are contributing to community or the environment and live or work locally.  The Award is given on the recommendation of the Wyre Strategic Partnership who kindly assess all the applications.

Other beneficiaries, each receiving £250 are:

• Fleetwood Kite Club: towards paying for kite lessons for those with anti-social behaviour orders or with disabilities, and to help cover the costs of CRB checks and training of new instructors.
• Friends of Memorial Park, Fleetwood: towards producing an information pamphlet about the park.
• Broadway Stars Morris Dancers: towards taking the team to the 2009 National Championships.

The Community Chest, open to everyone based in FY5 or FY7 postcodes, is awarded quarterly.  There is £1,250 available for distribution each quarter, with one award of £500, and three of £250, and anyone who wants to apply can do so online at www.wyrepower.com, following the link from the front page to the application form. The deadline for the next round of applications is 15 January 2010.

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