20024/25 has yet again been a frustrating year, waiting for Network Rail to set an implementation date for the re-signalling project. From unofficial sources we now hear that the Signal box will close at the beginning of November 2025. We await confirmation and final approval that the signal box will be transferred to our group.
Our bid for the GWR Customer & Community Improvement Fund for 2024/2025 was unfortunately unsuccessful. On a positive note, Peter Morris arranged a Model Railway exhibition day in Calon Y Fferi on May 3rd this year which was a success. On the day we received a donation of £10, whilst a number of people took a copy of our brochure and said they would be donating through the QR code.
The Society as of 3rd May 2025 has £1,805.78 in our account.
As previously membership of the society remains limited; we have not sought to widen the membership until we have more definite information on the lease and a date for our take-over of the Signal box. We have been in contact with Tomos Roberts Senior Public affairs Manager -Wales and Borders at Network Rail. On the 13th March 2025 he wrote:-
‘Everything has started to pick up on the project recently especially talks for on the signal box. I’m finalising a paper with my property colleagues so that we know what we can offer you and the group. We will definitely be able to update further in the next few weeks, and I’m sure we can attend the AGM as well’.
At present we have a committee consisting of myself as Chair, Diane Cuff as Secretary, Keith Williams as Treasurer, Community Councillor Paul Stephens as representative of St Ishmaels Community Council, James Greenwell representative of Ferryside Social Enterprise Group (FSEG) and committee members Robert Bamforth, Peter James Morris, Dave Harvey, James Budge and Brian Diprose.
In seeking to inform more people of our efforts we have developed a website at https://ferryside.wales/sos. We have an email address of sos@ferryside.wales and have introduced a QR code to accept donations, thank you to those people who have already made donations. A brochure and posters for tourism sites are available. Whilst our secretary has designed, produced and sold Christmas cards featuring the signal box. The Society and it’s aims have been featured both in the National magazine ‘Rail’ and on the website https://railwayworld.net following a visit by Gareth David on 5th November 2022