Southwold Railway

We are working on that. Rampant Nimbyism means that around here it's rare for villagers (mostly part-timers) to join and become active - the usual feeling is "OK, but not here..."
BUT - things are looking up: thanks to support from people who live within - say - 10 or 15 miles, and of course from people on this forum (thanks) we now have been granted full planning permission for the work already done at Blythburgh Station. Yes, it's just ensuring we don't have to dismantle everything - but still a big win, and the first time since the SRT'S "Steamworks" consent that the local authority have shown such support for the concept of railway restoration. We were surprised and pleased by the positive reactions of the various organisations whose consent was essential - Natural England, Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB (now "National Landscape"), Suffolk Highways, Anglian Water, and so on. Within two days of the decision we applied for the next consent - for some railway infrastructure onsite, and for the first section of the track extension to the west. We already own most of the rail for this: it's only 9 chains, but after that we have a public footpath crossing to deal with, so we thought - one thing at a time!
Meanwhile we have the right to run Open Days at what is now a railway heritage centre, so we immediately booked some of these: May 11th, July 20th, and September 14th. These will for the moment continue to be free (we may not be able to keep that up for ever!), so please come and see us (or indeed just drop in any Tuesday after 7th January).
To make this work we'll need a lot more members and volunteers (not to speak of cash!) - but it seems that the first step towards officially enshrining the concept of the restoration of at least part of the original, historic SR has been taken.
James

 

This is excellent news. For a while, I genuinely thought that you were going to lose here.

 

James, this is absolutely wonderful news! I must come up for a visit this year.
Its particularly encouraging that you have the support of the statutory bodies, going forward. Does this now mean that the guns of the uber-objector and their cronies have been spiked?

 

It's worth reading the last few documents on the planning portal.

 

Well Done, very pleased that you got the planning consent sorted.
Hopefully, the future is a lot brighter !

Too far for anything other than armchair support, but may be able visit the area again in the summer ...

 

Thanks GH, I will. Do you have a link, perchance?

 

Search at https://publicaccess.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/online-applications/, using reference DC/24/2962/FUL (I can't hyperlink to the actual application).

 

You'll be very welcome.
No - don't think so! The next battle will be harder: the Parish Council is discussing trying to designate the trackbed as a definitive footpath (it's currently permissive) - that would make life very hard indeed, as there's not a lot of room. It's a spoiler, of course, but in the current footpath/access climate, that's very hard to prove. (One of the many reasons why we concentrate on the western section is that the trackbed between Blythburgh and [almost] Walberswick is now a public footpath, making any railway restoration highly problematic. An example - a great deal of cash was spent in Gwynedd on alternative routes for footpaths on the WHR - and that restoration was really only possible anyway because of the peculiar legal situation of receivership).
It's never easy to put back a railway that's been closed for almost 100 years and completely scrapped since 1941 - the proliferation of trees along the route is only one obstacle - green stuff is very sensitive around here.....
We are relatively confident, though....although the essential environmental impact report/environmental improvement plan will be very pricey for a small organisation JH

 

Hi James, many thanks for that. Ive spent the last couple of hours acquainting myself with the application, and the dramatis personae, and to say its been interesting would be putting it mildly, particularly regarding the historic ownership of the railway's infrastructure, and that the original company's parliamentary rights may still exist!
Im sure that is a discussion for another time and place, but do feel free to PM me if you feel so inclined.
The Parish Council do seem to be on a rather, shall we say "different" trajectory than others, but the dynamic is fascinating, given the situation of land ownership, and the alleged legal powers involved.

 

Pleased to hear that the planning permission has been granted, I’ve been through the comments and there are a lot of compliments regarding the professionalism of the group and the standard of the job they have done in improving the site and maintaining it in good condition, well done to all concerned!

 

Thanks very much indeed - I will pass that on to the team.
Today we participated in "Whistle-up 200" in terrible weather - a howling gale and torrential rain. In our case it was "Ring-up", using the ship's bell on our battery-electric Greenbat loco - we stayed inside the restored 1879 SR Goods Shed, as there was no-one around to see us!
The ringer in the photo is Mike Kendall, ex-Romney, Hythe - one of our loco drivers and our most regular volunteer.
James

 

Not resting on our laurels, we have put in another planning application. This is for improvement and expansion to the station and line. Three items:

• Erection of a fully-operational classic double-armed signal in its original position (we found the remains of the hole!)
• Erection of the second goods building at the station - the private-owner "Odams' Shed" - this lasted until the 1970s, amazingly - and we have parts of the original base (which is already built). Replicating its original position is impossible, as that would block access to the station - so it will be re-erected in the same relationship to the siding as it used to have. It will double as a bird hide.
• Extending the main line 180m (200 yards) to the west, towards Wenhaston. Not much, but a significant step for us - and carrying significant costs. The current permissive path along the trackbed will be retained alongside the rails, and improved. Note that we have to keep some vehicle access for the water company and the land-owner, so this will be a tramway-style railway, set into the pathway. When we operate (currently only a maximum of 12 days each year are allowed) there'll be a temporary fence between path and main line.

If Nat Pres readers would like to support us, the reference is DC/24/4503/FUL East Suffolk Council’s website can be found at https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/plan...t/view-and-comment-on-a-planning-application/ Consultation ends on Friday 21st February (although that may be extended, as happened several times last year). The Parish Council have again objected, as they wish to designate the trackbed as a registered footpath - which would obviously make railway restoration very much harder, if not almost impossible.
James

 

I've noticed that one of the objectors feels that twelve days a year is too much as said objector thinks there'll be more days than that when you're not open to the public for e.g. stock movement.

Another is more concerned for walking their dog, describing this as "... a vanity project promoted by a few (non-resident) enthusiasts." That's a bit "Royston Vasey", isn't it?

Meanwhile, a part of the objection lodged by the Parish council has been answered by Anglian Water themselves, to wit:

 

It must be a pretty grim area if there is nowhere else to walk a dog. Don't think I'll go there.

 

Never mind the 353 other days the railway wouldn't be running. The objection was that;

It's hardly going to be like living next to Stratford depot in the 1950s, is it?

 

Objectors usually make 'over the top'comments. The DSR, when wanting to make a single track extension which had been laid by BR but shortened, were met with cries of 'Clapham Junction' by same locals. Anyone familiar with Churston will instantly recognize this comment as a ludicrous overstatement.

 

Sorry - 'DSR'?

Whilst not directing this directly at @Greenway I must confess I do find the constant use of abbreviations for railway and station names on this forum irksome as it assumes an extensive and intimate knowledge on the part of the reader of the details of every heritage line in the UK.

I've just finished reading a self-published book called From Steam to Stratford which used many abbreviations and which to me proved two things:

one - when someone says "you should write a book", sometimes you really shouldn't and
two - editors exist for a reason.

 

well. for a disabled person The Dartmouth Steam River and River Boat Co, is a lot of typing. the clue was Churston.
https://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk

 

Thank you for explaining it though - I'd never have got it otherwise

 

I was taught that for a report the first use of a term had to be in full, with the intended short form in brackets immediately afterwards, unless it was something in common, everyday use. {and provide a glossary as an appendix if the document was a long one, or used more than a few abbreviations or jargon}.