Talk:Kidderminster Railway Museum

From memory, either the lease or freehold for the whole site was conveyed to the SVR and the museum site immediately reconveyed to the KRM. Was it for VAT reasons, or BR wanting to deal with one purchaser? Is there anything in the News on this?--Patrick Hearn (talk) 21:28, 21 September 2020 (UTC)

January 1994, when the freehold was acquired. I think from the wording in SVR News that the back to back sale agreement was driven by the fact that BR wished to sell the whole site as a single lot rather than any other reason.

The first announcement of BR's proposed sale of the site in SVR News 108 noted that "As this issue goes to press, we have just learned that the B.R. Property Board is to dispose of the former Kidderminster goods yard at auction in December. … Our leasehold interest is safe for some years, and the land is currently designated for railway use, but it has always been our ultimate aim to acquire the freehold should the opportunity arise. Although the situation will be discussed with our fellow occupiers and ways of raising the likely purchase price will be explored, this may well not be the time and there remains a distinct possibility that we may find ourselves with a new landlord."

SVR News 109 continued, "The major item of business … has been the disposal of the Kidderminster site by the B.R. Property Board. It was to be auctioned as a single lot, the cost of which presented considerable difficulties, but if we missed this chance of acquiring the freehold of our station, another opportunity might never arise. The Kidderminster Railway Museum was willing to join with us, but the other occupiers of the site were not. … We will be eternally grateful for an offer of temporary funding to cover any shortfall, which resulted in BRPB accepting our offer of £450,000, and the contract was signed the day before the scheduled auction, with completion due by 26th January. A contract for resale of part to the Museum for £80,000 was signed on the same day." --Robin (talk) 12:36, 22 September 2020 (UTC)

Thanks Robin--Patrick Hearn (talk) 12:52, 22 September 2020 (UTC)