Bid to bring 90-year-old tram to city park

At a derelict farmyard in Stanmer Park, tram enthusiasts are working to bring a piece of Brighton's transport history back to life.

The Brighton 53 Tram Society has spent 16 years restoring a 1930s tram and now wants to build a short line, workshop and museum within the park.

Between 1901 and 1939, Brighton had a busy electric tram network before services were decommissioned at the start of World War Two.

Brighton & Hove City Council has put buildings and land at Home Farm up for lease and said it welcomes "creative ideas", with applicants required to submit an expression of interest and a detailed business case.

Tram 53, one of 116 original cars, was found rotting on a pig farm before volunteers began painstaking work to restore it.

The work, carried out in a small workshop near Steyning, West Sussex, has included installing electrical systems and air brakes to make the tram operational again.

The group now hopes to relocate to Home Farm in Stanmer Park, where the council has put buildings and land up for lease.

It has already submitted a prospectus but must complete a formal application process alongside other interested parties.

Guy Hall, who started the group, told BBC Radio Sussex: "What we're after is a space in the farm, we don't need the full space. We want to make a proper workshop, small museum and shop."

He said the project would be self-funded and could attract support from businesses and visitors.

Hall added: "We think this will be brilliant for Brighton."

The group wants to build a tram line within the yard, which has not been used for farming for decades, with hopes to eventually build a line that runs to Stanmer House nearby.

Hall said the total cost of the project would be around £750,000, and said the group has raised £130,000 so far.

"We're now asking for help, we think people will be attracted to it and think it would add to the park", he said.

Hall added the tram network had once "revolutionised transport in Brighton".

People visiting Stanmer Park had mixed feelings on the idea.

Lesley Johnston said: "I think it would be a nice tourist attraction for people who can't walk so well, they could get a good view."

David Pope, from Brighton, said: "I don't think it's really in keeping with a rural setting, a Sussex village. I'm not dead against it, but can't see that it would add anything to the park."

Caroline Stace added: "The costs would probably be extortionate. It's a good idea but needs some finances worked out I should think."

A spokesperson for the council said it is aware of the group's ambitions for a tram in the park and welcome any creative ideas for the city.

They added: "The council met with representatives of the group earlier this year to discuss their plans and are more than happy to do so again.

"We have recently advertised buildings and land at Home Farm in Stanmer Park on the open rental market, and Brighton Tram 53 Society is welcome to submit an expression of interest."

In terms of building on other land, the council said in an email to the group that it would need to see a fully developed business plan before considering the proposal.

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