Changes

Its The Trust's charitable objectives include to develop, construct, preserve, operate the railway between [[Buildwas]] and [[Bridgnorth]] via [[Ironbridge]], connecting to the existing Severn Valley Railway.<ref>[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityFramework.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1129939&SubsidiaryNumber=0 Charity Commission] (retrieved 4 January 2017)</ref> In 2018 the Trust launched a website with a proposal for a park and ride shuttle rail service rail link one mile in length from Buildwas to [[Ironbridge]] operated by a mixture of modern trains and historic steam trains on peak days.<ref>[http://www.ironbridge-railway-trust.org.uk/index.html Ironbridge Trust website]</ref> In October 2020 the trust proposed the reinstated rail link would include [[Jackfield Halt|Jackfield]] and [[Coalport]], and bid in round 3 of the government’s Restoring Your Railways fund which, if successful, would finance a full feasibility study.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2020/10/10/trust-moves-to-re-instate-historic-railway-link-in-ironbridge/ Smith, R., 'Trust moves to re-instate historic railway link in Ironbridge', Shropshire Star, 10 October 2020] (Retrieved 11 October 2020)</ref> {{As of|2021|7}} round 3 bids remain under assessment<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-your-railway-fund-bids-received 'Restoring Your Railway Fund: bids received', gov.uk website] (Retrieved 11 July 2021)</ref>.

In subsequent years The the Trust has consulted with stakeholders such as e-on/Uniper (previous owners of the [[Ironbridge power station]] site), local Councillors and MPs, the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils to elicit support in principle for their proposals. In June 2018 the Harworth Group announced that it had bought the Ironbridge power station site for an undisclosed sum. In the same year the Trust launched a website with a proposal for a park and ride shuttle rail service rail link one mile in length from Buildwas to [[Ironbridge]] operated by a mixture of modern trains and historic steam trains on peak days.<ref>[http://www.ironbridge-railway-trust.org.uk/index.html Ironbridge Trust website]</ref> Following public consultation in May 2019, Harworth Group submitted an outline planning application for redevelopment of the site on 19th December 2019.<ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=Q2YLFWTD06Z00 Shropshire Council: Planning Application Documents]</ref> The Trust objected to the outline planning application on 21 February 2020, essentially because it appeared to make no provision for any form of rail connection to Ironbridge. A postscript to the objection noted that "...''we advised Harworth Group of our comments and concerns in May 2019 following their public presentations. Regrettably, we have not received any acknowledgement of our communication despite their willingness to engage in constructive comment following their respective public consultations, or our various meetings to advise them of our position and philosophy.''"<ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/files/5DD3AE716BE826DBB831F7D4E9A26A6D/pdf/19_05560_OUT-IRONBRIDGE_RAILWAY_TRUST-3846129.pdf Shropshire Council: Planning Application Documents (IRT objection)]</ref>.

In June 2018 the Harworth Group announced that it had bought the Ironbridge power station site for an undisclosed sum. Following public consultation in May 2019, Harworth Group submitted an outline The planning application for redevelopment was initially rejected by Shropshire Council's Southern Planning Committee in August 2021 over a number of issues including the site on 19th December 2019.level of guaranteed affordable housing,<ref>[https://pawww.shropshireshropshirestar.gov.ukcom/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2021/08/14/onlinecouncillor-urges-people-to-look-at-bigger-picture-over-power-station-applicationssite/applicationDetails.do?activeTabfbclid=documents&keyVal=Q2YLFWTD06Z00 IwAR0PlNp8PNUqFh9gsvEQ_Y0DNP7rV1fIhG2yxhIcHaiLmVRn-vVJAExUOA0 Shropshire Council: Planning Application DocumentsStar](retrieved 16 August 2021)</ref> The Ironbridge Railway Trust objected to the outline planning application on 21 February 2020, essentially because it appears to make no provision for any form of rail connection to Ironbridge. A postscript to the objection noted that "...''we advised Harworth Group of our comments and concerns but was approved in May 2019 following their public presentations. Regrettably, we have not received any acknowledgement of our communication despite their willingness to engage in constructive comment following their respective public consultations, or our various meetings to advise them of our position and philosophy.''"September 2021 after revised proposals were submitted<ref>[https://pawww.shropshireshropshirestar.gov.ukcom/news/onlinelocal-applicationshubs/telford/ironbridge/files2021/5DD3AE716BE826DBB831F7D4E9A26A6D09/pdf20/19_05560_OUTcontroversial-ironbridge-development-given-the-IRONBRIDGE_RAILWAY_TRUSTgo-3846129.pdf ahead/ Shropshire Council: Planning Application Documents Star] (IRT objectionretrieved 18 November 2021)]</ref>.

The In October 2020 the Trust applied for £43proposed the reinstated rail link would include [[Jackfield Halt|Jackfield]] and [[Coalport]],000 from and subsequently bid in round 3 of the Department for Transport's 'Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund' which, if successful, would be have financed a full feasibility study.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2020/10/10/trust-moves-to-re-instate-historic-railway-link-in-ironbridge/ Smith, R., 'Trust moves to re-instate historic railway link in Ironbridge', Shropshire Star, 10 October 2020] (Retrieved 11 October 2020)</ref>. The Trust applied for £43,000 which would have been used to further develop the case for its plan to reopen the 10 miles line between the former Ironbridge Power Station and Bridgnorth. The project would be have been completed in three stages and would cost around £46.29m according to the bid.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2021/03/17/trust-bids-for-funding-to-plan-opening-disused-rail-line/ Shropshire Star, 17 March 2021] (Retrieved 17 March 2021)</ref> The Trust's application was not included in the list of successful bids anounced announced in October 2021<ref>[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1028949/restoring-your-railway-successful-bids.csv/preview gov.uk "Restoring your railway: successful bids"] (Retrieved 27 October 2021)</ref>.