Plans On Track For £1.2m Shed Revamp

PLANS for the £1.2 million transformation of a rundown railway shed have been given the go-ahead.

The Grade II listed Meliden Goods Shed on the walkway between Prestatyn and Dyserth is a step closer to being transformed into a community hub with a café, heritage centre, cycling facility, allotments and space for artists.

Denbighshire County Council planners have given the proposals the nod and graphics released by Denbigh-based Creu Architecture and project leaders Grŵp Cynefin show how the building could be brought back to life.

Grŵp Cynefin and Meliden Residents Action Group had secured support from the Big Lottery Fund to develop the proposals for the building, which will be known as The Shed. A further funding bid will be made to the Big Lottery Community Asset Transfer 2 fund in May with a decision by October this year. If successful, work could start as early as summer 2017.

Mair Edwards, Grŵp Cynefin’s Community Initiatives Manager, said: “Meliden Goods Shed is in a prime location and could ultimately become a real visitor attraction and valuable community asset.

“We know more than 50,000 people a year walk, cycle or run along the railway line so the area is already popular with scope to bring in additional tourists. We’re delighted to have secured planning permission – The Shed is an exciting project and one that could see this beautiful building restored to its former glory.”

Other plans for The Shed include time tunnels reflecting the village’s rich mining and quarrying history together with its railway role.

The Prestatyn to Dyserth Way opened as a three-mile railway from the Chester and Holyhead railway in 1869 and served the mineral trade largely transporting lead and limestone. A passenger service began in 1905 between Dyserth and Prestatyn with 30,000 people using it each year. The shed closed in 1957 and reopened briefly as a business premises before closing again. The railway itself ran until 1972.

A fundraising campaign is likely to be launched to support the project.
Denbighshire County Councillor Peter Evans, who represents Meliden, said: “We have a real opportunity in Meliden to transform this iconic village building and see it returned to good use to benefit both the community and tourism.

“The plans and designs are sympathetic to the area and to the building itself. Many villagers remember the railway running and we look forward to the day we can open the doors of the goods shed once again.”

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