Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

The latest episode - No. 10 - of "Steam on the Moor" has just dropped:

 

That was great. Hope to see more of this kind of thing, in addition to Stuart's regular updates.

 

Exmoor Associates have been quiet recently. No update to their website in ages and no new newsletter either. Anyone know what’s going on?

 

A couple of things bubbling along, but you never know how long it takes, and they can't give any hints for the risk of spoiling actions. There was a hope to be able to say something by Christmas, but if you've ever bought, say, a house, you know what sort of unexpected obstacles arrive, er, unexpectedly. Bratton Fleming was a typical example.

My son tried to buy a house opposite his rental. It was only on the market for a few days, and by the time he became aware, it had already gone.
Six months later it turned out the buyer did not complete, and now he is buying it. Property is a funny market.

 

I was at the AGM in September, and several separate matters are working towards a conclusion, but overall, as Breva says, it happens when it happens..
Its like fly fishing, but rest assured, its far from quiet behind the scenes

 

An article in Trackside mentions an agreement with the new owners of the Chelfham viaduct site, which will be beneficial for the station in terms of parking and other aspects.

 

Patience is a virtue.

 

An "EA Extra" in November announced

and

The closing date for comments to North Devon Council was 19th November.

 

We must be exceedingly grateful for the determined efforts of those behind Exmoor Associates/Yeo Valley Trust who pursue these long-term aims - if the L & BR Trust is doing something similar towards acquiring the missing land north of Blackmoor Gate we never hear about it. Why not ? we should ask. Are the right people in charge ? We have to hope the changes in Trusteeship recently and hopefully, this coming May, will see some progress.

 

...but the occasional vice may be nice

 

I must confess that I have rather given up trying to follow the progress of the CFL application on the ENPA website, mainly because there appears to be no way of sorting all the support/object responses into some sort of date order so that I can tell which ones are new and which are those which I have read already. However while looking at it today I happened by chance to download one letter of objection which dealt in particular with the alleged lack of communication with Parracombe Parish Council and its local residents and various points caught my attention while reading it.

Noting that I have not been able to check the accuracy of the following comments, I found:-

• In March 2023.... L&BR trustees were advised by ENPA Officers and Members that, given the enormous number of objection letters received, they
  should consult in a meaningful way with Parracombe residents before even considering a further planning application...
• In the summer of 2023, L&BR began informal pre-application discussions with ENPA planning officers about an extension to CFL....
  PPC wrote to L&BR expressing their dismay that L&BR had consulted with their membership but had chosen not to consult with residents of Parracombe...(and).... letter requested to be involved in discussion early before any proposal was settled upon, in the hope this would avoid any sort of fait accompli.
• L&BR replied to the PPC letter in December 2023 stating they would engage with PPC and residents before “anything is finalised”.
• On 21st June 2024, L&BR sent all planning documents and detailed drawings to ENPA with a formal request for pre-application guidance....(and).....
  18 days later, on 9th July 2024, L&BR presented these proposals to PPC and residents. L&BR trustees tried their best to persuade attendees that nothing was set in stone and that they wanted to work collaboratively, however they failed to mention that they had already submitted complete documentation and detailed drawings to ENPA.
• ....John Barton (trustee) conceding at the meeting that the proposed planning application was going to be submitted, and only minor “tweaks” could be contemplated. This is a far cry from the promise to engage and consult before “anything is finalised”, and it is also a real shame.
• As stated before, this whole saga represents a missed opportunity for L&BR to engage properly

Make of that what you will, but if there is at least some degree of accuracy therein then it merely adds to my existing concerns about how the process has been managed for such a sensitive and contentious issue.

 

I read in the FRS Magazine that the Trust has ordered a spare carriage bogie to be built at Boston Lodge. Why do I have to find that out in another Society's Magazine ?

 

It was mentioned recently on the L&B group Facebook page during an update.

And I belive , without re-listening to the podcast , it was mentioned on there as well .

I cant vouch for if it was or wasn't mentioned in the news letters / magazine as I am currently away from home and don't have access to it .

 

Latest news update on the L&BRT website: https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/news/view/november-december-report

 

Today at Woody Bay - Whistle Up for Railway 200

 

The latest news from the L&BRT website: https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/news/view/visit-by-trackside-magazine

 

Thank you, and really brilliant to see such generous language in the linked article.

 

I wonder if 2025 will be the year when the L&BR throws the towel in re this extension. There are lots of reports about shiny new coaches etc but not a foot of track has been laid and opposition is as entrenched as ever. Sometimes you have to stop beating your head against a wall.

 

By coincidence, rumour reaches my ear recently that the infamous '£22bn black hole' in UK finances has spread to WB and swallowed up the 'Return to Parracombe Appeal' funds as well. If the ENPA asks to see the money up front on the table before they grant any permission, they may be in for a long wait...

Always happy to be proved wrong

 

At the May AGM at least one significant Trustee's post comes up for renewal - there will be the opportunity to review past performance and if members are unhappy, a chance to vote for a change. It is all about communication. At the very least there might be an up-front and lucid dissemination of the financial situation.