Facebook - Shropshire Business Twitter - Shropshire Business LinkedIn - Shropshire Business
https://www.networktelecom.co.uk/nt-multimedia https://www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk

Pioneering land deal will support key attraction

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is set to benefit from a pioneering land deal which sees profits from land sold for development in Telford re-invested into key projects across the Marches.

The Trust has warned that the compounding effects of both flooding and Coronavirus has dealt a financial blow to the museum which has 10 sites in the Gorge and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Telford & Wrekin Council pays a portion of profits from land it sells under the deal with Homes England into the LEP’s Marches Investment Fund (MIF) to drive growth and regeneration.

The Telford Land Deal Board and Marches LEP Board have now agreed that £230,000 from MIF can be used to support Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust after it appealed for external financial support. The funding forms part of a wider £1.58m injection from MIF for strategic tourism and business initiatives in the region.

The Trust is planning to open Blists Hill Victorian Town, Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron and Toll House tomorrow (July 4) and The Museum of The Gorge, which suffered damage during the floods of February, will open as a free entry Visitor Centre.

As well as employing over 200 staff and 500 volunteers the Museum spends over £2m each year on retail and catering stock, on maintenance and event contracts and other external suppliers most of which is provided by local suppliers, many small business owners. This grant will therefore also benefit many other businesses across Telford and the Marches.

Mandy Thorn MBE, LEP chair, said: “The Ironbridge Gorge is the single largest draw for visitors in the Marches attracting over 1.5million visitors a year.

“Around 40 per cent of visitors say the museums are the main reason for their visit and £60 million of visitor spend is generated in Ironbridge Gorge by the museums. It is of vital importance that the Trust is supported at this time – it is of strategic importance to the health of our regional economy.”

Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet lead for the Ironbridge Gorge, said: “It is great news that the unique Telford Land Deal which is a partnership with Homes England and the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership can support the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust in this way.

“It has been a tough year for everyone but particularly in Ironbridge with the combination of the worst floods for 20 years and the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.”

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust chief executive Nick Ralls said the funding was a much-needed boost as the museums prepared for a phased reopening and continued to work to repair the damage caused by February’s floods.

“The lockdown and floods have been a really significant double blow to us and this funding could not be more welcome. As a registered heritage conservation and education charity caring for some internationally-important buildings in a World Heritage Site,  every penny we receive in donations, bequests, fundraising and ticket sales plays a part in preserving our history and inspiring new generations.

“We are incredibly grateful for this funding and will ensure that it is used to continue the Trust’s vital work and helps generate much-needed revenue for our tourism and visitor economy.”

https://www.reclaimtaxuk.co.uk

Furnace Kitchen wins major award

Building transformation is praised by expert judges

5th October 2020

Furnace Kitchen fires back to life

Coalbrookdale restaurant turns its hand to takeaways

12th June 2020

Tenders invited for new website

Businesses urged to pitch for Flaxmill Maltings contract

15th June 2021

New finance drive is launched

Funding will help businesses recover from Covid pandemic

22nd February 2021

Boxing clever at overseas event

Taste of the Marches at Meet the Buyer showcase

26th March 2021

Reopening is huge success for museums

Thousands of visitors flock to attractions as lockdown is eased

6th July 2020

Poll takes temperature 12 months on

Businesses asked for their views as region prepares for recovery

27th April 2021

Iconic tower is revealed at Flaxmill

Jubilee Tower has been restored and scaffolding is taken down

28th October 2020

Building work starts on innovation park

Construction project gets under way in Newport

7th January 2021

Manufacturer fit to grow thanks to grant help

Firm can now expand and take on new staff

6th May 2020

Boost for Dawley on its way

Funding will help to boost town's High Street

15th December 2020

Marches LEP chief to step down

Gill Hamer moves on to pastures new

10th May 2021

International trade team grows

Two more advisers are appointed

12th November 2020

Survey shows huge impact of Coronavirus

Marches LEP asks more businesses to take part in research

22nd April 2020

Working together will be vital

Business community counts cost of Covid

23rd February 2021