Commemorative plaques have been unveiled celebrating the history of Morecambe's former railway station building - now home to the Platform arts venue.
Graham Liver, presenter from BBC Radio Lancashire, unveiled the two plaques, that have been donated by the Friends of the Platform Morecambe group.
The first is a heritage plaque commemorating the opening of the iconic Marine Road building – built in an Elizabethan Gothic style – in 1907.
The second is an information plaque detailing the general history of the building from being an important railway destination from when Morecambe was affectionately known as ‘Bradford-on-Sea’, to its transition to the entertainment and events venue it is today.
The group was founded in May 2024 to assist the owners of the venue and their management team to raise funds otherwise not available to them to preserve, develop, promote and preserve the venue which has been at the heart of Morecambe since 1907.
The unveiling of the two plagues falls at the end of FOTPM’s first year and the first Annual General Meeting of the group followed on immediately afterwards.
"Our first year has been an exciting and encouraging one where FOTPM have built up a strong working relationship with the management team and owners of this iconic building, which has been at the heart of Morecambe for nearly 120 years, in order to guarantee its future, particularly with Eden Project Morecambe now in its ‘delivery phase’, bringing the prospect of a bright and vibrant future to the Lancaster & Morecambe District," said David Morgan chair of FOTPM.
“FOTPM are proud to be part of The Platform – Morecambe ‘team’ and are looking forward to raising funds which might not otherwise available, so that the projects that are planned for the coming year can be brought to fruition.
“Anyone interested in becoming involved is assured of a warm welcome.
"Membership is open to everyone no matter where they may live – so please contact our Honorary Secretary Sue Saunders who will be pleased to ensure full details are provided.”
The Platform is owned, operated, and managed by Lancaster City Council as an entertainments centre and general community facility for the benefit of the local community, community groups and community events.
The Friends aim to work alongside The Platform Morecambe, and its management team, to guarantee the future of the Grade II listed building by obtaining external funding for improvements and enhancements which otherwise might not be available.
The potential closure of the Platform was announced in February 2023 as part of £2.4m of Lancaster City Council budget cuts.
The council originally planned to stop operating the venue in October 2023 but this was extended to March 2024 after residents rallied against the plans, setting up petitions calling for the former railway station to stay open.
They had been in talks with three un-named third-party operators who were interested in taking over the running of the venue.
But then in November 2023, the council announced their intention to keep the Platform in-house and open.
Councillors said at the time, that their new plans "should generate tens of thousands of pounds of additional revenue to safeguard the venue as the profile of Morecambe grows as a destination with the advent of the Eden Project".
Morecambe Visitor Information Centre, which was housed inside the building, closed due to budget cuts in September 2023.
The Friends group and membership scheme were established shortly afterwards.
The former railway station opened as the Platform in 1997. The building is also home to the Station Promenade pub.
Full details of how to become a member of FOTPM, the Loyalty & Reward Programme, and their events and those at the venue, can be found on their web page
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