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Rother Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by nine elms fan, Nov 4, 2012.

  1. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Yes My MP does have a problem with knowing truth from spin, so it would seem,
     
  2. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Is it just me, or do others also think Huw Merriman (MP for Battle and Bexhill) is a reincarnation of Dale Winton?

    Robin



    Dale
    3E15A6F2-68D3-4CE3-9330-D2462F991AA3.jpeg

    Huw
    9C8FB2CE-C556-42FD-9DC6-85A01D74B516.jpeg
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2018
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  3. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    And I do suffer confusion between Jenny Eclair, comedienne, and Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye.

    I know which one’s pronouncements are more amusing.

    Robin


    Amber
    F178B3D4-B644-4C23-AB2F-EC7D46B17841.jpeg

    Jenny
    6725FA30-AE50-44F9-8EE1-B6893AE0FF73.jpeg
     
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  4. nigelss

    nigelss Member

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    I have just sent an email in support of the TWAO. I would certainly consider visiting the RVR/KESR and Bodiam Castle by rail. I am not inclined to do the trip by car.
     
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  5. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    I think it would be better if you kept silly political prejudices to New General Chat where they belong.
     
  6. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Being a resident of East Sussex, the road network is horrendous if you get above 30, your doing well, and in my view the anti RVR website has so many inaccuracies that you get the feeling they don't have that strong a case, so have reverted to operation fear, I will admit, I have concerns that some who don't do their fact checking might be swayed by it, where as the RVR have used facts, backed up by hard evidence , in my letter I made mention to how more flood risk the disused track bed will be as the drainage will have been destroyed or not kept up with, so land will not drain properly, but of course the protesters don't tell you that, or that so called unreplaceable land, is infact been left as purchased and not actually used for agriculture in a lot of places, so that must place questions over their used of the land.
     
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  7. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Well its now down to the SoS now to make a decision, in theory the RVR has a good case, but you cant take anything for granted, you never know who may be friends of the two protestors, and what influence they may have over government ministers , but hopefully everyone will play by the rules , then the hard work begins
     
  8. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    So we are not talking Public Enquiry first?
     
  9. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    I expect a public inquiry will be needed unless the CPO objections are withdrawn - there might also be other reasons why the Secretary of State might require it. An inquiry is conducted by an inspector who then reports and makes recommendations to the Minister. After that you have to wait for the Minister’s decision (which does not have to concur with the inspector’s recommendation).
     
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  10. alastair

    alastair Well-Known Member

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    Indeed. I seem to recall approval for Welsh Highland was contrary to inspector's recommendation. This is where you need friends/influence in high places!
     
  11. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

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    As was the situation with the Bluebells extension north of Horsted Keyenes
     
  12. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

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    Its almost certain this will be the case - CPO powers are not something to be conferred lightly under UK law and must be subject to rigorous scrutiny. The "Englishmans home is his castle" view of private property is very much embedded in the political / legal / national psyche
     
  13. John Baritone

    John Baritone New Member

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    Some background, re. crossing the Robertsbridge by-pass. Disclaimer; this is what I was told by a senior bod at the KESR, quite a few years ago - and, even then, it's only hearsay - but I think it might shed some light on why the powers wot be don't appear concerned about a crossing in that location.

    Many moons ago, when someone at KESR HQ broached the possibility of re-opening to Robertsbridge with HM Railway Inspectorate, he was told that was out of the question. At the time, 7 mile tailbacks on the A21 were a routine feature on sunny week-ends through the summer months, as Londoners heading for the sea (or the Smoke) wound their tortuous way along the series of bumps, kinks and chicanes masquerading as Robertsbridge 'High Street'. The idea of re-opening the level crossing there was enough to give traffic planners nightmares and stomach ulcers, even at off peak times, as incoming traffic would be on top of the crossing before they saw it. So, as far as most people in KESR Land were concerned, unless Robertsbridge was by-passed, that was that.

    Years later, the powers wot be finally got off their backsides and decreed that Robertsbridge should have a by-pass - with bated breath, the KESR boys and girls waited; to the West of Robertsbridge? Or to the East? :Nailbiting:

    East it was . . . right across the old trackbed . . . :( . . . ho, hum . . . Robertsbridge? Where dat?

    More years drifted by, and one day another high-up bod from KESR found himself talking to a bloke from the Big Railway, who asked how the plans to extend to Robertsbridge were coming on, as he said the Big Railway thought they could sell quite a few extra tickets through the middle of the day, mid-week, when their trains ran well under capacity. Man from KESRA was baffled. o_O

    (K Man) But we were told we'd never get permission for a crossing over the A.21!
    (BR Man) Yes, but now Robertsbridge has a by-pass.
    (K Man) But it's right across the old line!
    (BR man) So what? The sighting is excellent in both directions, so traffic would have plenty of warning when the lights started to flash. The problem was never a crossing over the A.21 - the problem was a level crossing smack in the middle of Robertsbridge.
    (K Man) Do you think we could actually get permission, then?
    (BR Man) Why not? We've got a level crossing over the A.27 near Newhaven. You'd obviously need to get the layout of the crossing, warning signage, etc, spot on, and the relevant paperwork sorted out with the roads people - but there are plenty of specialist consultants who can sort all that out for you, so why not go for it?

    So they did!

    Got my fingers crossed for you, KESR people :)
     
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  14. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    And a good thing too. I hope the RVR succeed but I’m glad it isn’t too easy to take away somebody else’s land.
     
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  15. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    The BR crossing at Newhaven has now been replaced by a bridge, the crossing is still there but does not have any impact on the A27.
     
  16. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

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    Indeed - because the roads at Newhaven are the A259 and the A26!

    The A27 used to have an AHB level crossing outside Lewes at Beddingham which was so bad for motorists jumping the lights (even with red light cameras) that the railway was forced to put in a 40mph speed restriction in later years. That crossing was finally replaced by a bridge a decade ago much to everyones relief.
     
  17. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Had an interesting package in the post today, From DFT, A letter confirming my correspondence and a booklet explaining the procedure for any T&WA order I would expect those of you who like me took the time to write in support will receive the same package along with an possibility to speak or be represented at any future public hearing .
     
  18. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    Yes, me too. It would make more economic sense if e-mail correspondents received the information in the package the same way.
     
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  19. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Thinking about the question of level crossings, North bridge street is generally not going to be a problem, same with Junction RD, as its on a B road, both now carry far less traffic than they used to , And looking at the A21, as I see it, the level crossing is on the Hastings side of the Roundabout just before the Roundabout , so traffic will be slowing down, ready to negotiate the roundabout, so I don't fore see any real problems there, the main problem I suspect will be in traffic from the Sevenoaks direction heading towards Hastings, coming of the roundabout being held up if the gates are down, and there being traffic held backing up on the roundabout , not a safety problem, in its self, but I can see that being troublesome .
     
  20. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Wouldn't it just! :cool:
     

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