Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

My observation would be that the trustees deserve real credit for their restraint in not adopting that approach with objectors and/or the planning authorities. Given the interaction of factors, it is then uncertain whether this has served the project well.

 

The newsletter is clear on that point; I am neither a lawyer nor a planning specialist, but the reasoning seemed entirely clear - even if the implications for the accountability of a planning authority were disappointing.

 

By law, planning permission can’t ‘simply’ be extended. In this case probably the only way to extend it, effectively, would’ve been a S73 successfully granted before the original permission expired.

 

I was aware that planning permission cannot be extended and that an applicant has a choice to commence (which in this case was not possible because of the Grampian conditions) or to resubmit with no guarantee that permission will be granted again. My question was really (and I think it is as much an expression of surprise as anything) whether the ENPA had the power to extend the planning date in order to allow themselves the time to carry out their procedures. It is a little surprising that they apparently do not.

 

Chris Duffell has just posted a response on the Exmoor-NG group, explaining his thinking on the abstention.

 

For those of us who aren't members, is it possible to access those comments?

 

Bear with - I'll check...

 

A Statement from Chris Duffell,
Trustee, Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust

Dear Members of the Lynton & Barnstaple Trust,
Following the withdrawal of the Section 73 Planning Application, and the expiration (on March 7th 2023) of the Planning Permissions granted in 2018 by the Exmoor National Park for the section between Killington Lane and Blackmoor Gate, you will have received from the Trust a document which asks for your opinion on four possible ways forward.
This communication states that I abstained from approving the document, and I feel I should explain why I did so.
There are several reasons behind my decision. Firstly, my fellow Trustees have shown not an ounce of contrition for the years and members’ money that have been wasted on the four planning applications that lapsed on March 7th 2023, after five years of validity, preferring to place the blame on the planners at Exmoor National Park. Whilst ENP planners do have questions to answer about the way the Section 73 and Red Line Planning applications were handled, the Trustees appear to have an arrogance of infallibility in believing that they in no way are responsible.
The result is that the Railway, and especially the Trust, has lost its credibility with the people and organisations of North Devon. The current newsletter does nothing to explain to the membership how this credibility can be restored.
The Trust’s document does not explain the full costs of any of the proposals, especially those highlighted within Option C. Nor does it explain whether the Trust has sufficient funds to take these proposals forward without the requirement for further fundraising.
The main reason for my abstention is this: whilst I could agree that the way forward would major on the reconstruction of Phase IIA (Killington Lane to Wistlandpound), I disagree with the proposals as currently put forward.
My view, and that of others I have talked to, is that as the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, we need to take a step back, to draw breath, and to decide what we want from this project and how we are now going to take it forward.
The Trust currently has no overall published “Strategy for the Development and Reconstruction of the Railway from Barnstaple to Lynton”. To the outside world we do not present a united front; instead we have two organisations supposedly working towards the same aims, but apparently unwilling to communicate with each other. Similarly, we do not promote or publicise the project in a meaningful way, giving rise to the impression that we are a bunch of old men from outside the area who just want to play trains.
So we need to take that step back and prepare that Strategy to include statements which:-
1. Emphasise that the overall aim is to rebuild the full railway from Lynton to Barnstaple;
2. Take a broader approach to the development of the whole line, including those parts of the trackbed not within the current Phase IIA (WB to WP);
3. Demonstrate the economic benefits of the project, highlighting the benefits to North Devon Exmoor and its local population;
4. Demonstrate a credible business and funding plan;
5. Highlight our green credentials, especially the biodiversity gains that the reinstatement will bring;
6. Outline the credible plan for carrying this out, which involves all stakeholders including Exmoor Associates and the Yeo Valley Trust;
7. Develop a communication plan to ensure that local government, councils and populus fully understand, are aware, and are fully supportive of the reinstatement project.
Concurrent with the development of the strategy, work should be undertaken on the sections of trackbed that are in our ownership, including from Blackmoor Gate towards Wistlandpound. Currently we are not demonstrating good husbandry for several of those sections, nor promoting the Biodiversity Net Gain that will be brought by restoring them. Fencing drainage and vegetation management have all been neglected. Planning permission is not needed to carry out such work and maintaining such areas, and the tasks involved are well suited to volunteer involvement. Thought should be given on how we can publicise and develop public awareness and access of such work.
I fully understand that members want to see the L&B succeed, with an extended line completed within the near future. But it would be premature to proceed without a full review to determine the root causes why the Railway is in its current predicament. To do so could also be detrimental to future fundraising.
Without a review and analysis of why the Phase IIa planning work has failed to deliver so far, how can the membership be convinced that the same mistakes will not be made a second time, with further significant waste of money that ultimately has to be raised by the membership?
The development of the Railway going forward has to be right, as this time there will no second chance.
The Trust’s Document asks for a vote on one of their four options. It gives no option to reject them, abstain, or offer alternative proposals. I would welcome your comments on the way forward I have outlined in this document. Please email me at Chris.duffell@... by the 12th April .
I look forward to your responses.
Chris Duffell
C G Duffell TD BSc CEng MICE MCIHT
Trustee of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust

 

I think he’s absolutely right.

 

Please can someone with access to the original DM me the rest of the email address? I understand why it's not on the open forum given it's an exciting way to get added to loads of spam lists! As a member (and someone who helped vote him onto the Trust with my vote) I'd like to make contact as invited.

 

I checked my latest copy of the magazine, and contact details are given there.

 

ah if it's the same email address then that's fine - the world seems to be filling up with people getting a new email address every time they want to converse on different subjects!

ta

 

I didn't say that - but it's the one I'll use!

 

That has a feeling about it of being the Trust's "J'accuse" moment.

 

Interesting contrast to the WHR.

 

As a distant supporter of the L & B.....both the Trust and EA, I have read Chris Duffell's statement with a sense of disappointment ....and optimism.
Obviously there is a LOT going on in the background and there is a lot of history with different people, groups, factions and indeed organisations being involved. There may well be incremental or even dramatic, changes over the next few months.
But there are many thousands of people locally and worldwide who want to see this project succeed.
There are people who do not wish to see any change in the area, but there are also people who support the idea as it will help the broader economy/ecology and environment. The example in North Wales of the benefits of several NG lines shows what can be achieved.
Well Done to all those who are working so hard on our behalf.

 

I am glad you all now have the chance to see what Chris has to say about what has been going on, he is not alone in those views either, there are still other things going on which I am not about to say since it might just kick off another flaming war on here.

There are more of us than most of you guys will know who support Chris, is it asking to much for a project to be manage correctly and etherically as well? Just how much all of this has or will put the project back is hard to judge at the moment.

I have said above that I cant see the railway having an extension for sometime, since I can't confirm or am I prepaid to name names about what I have been told about Blackmoor you are going to have to accept that nothing is going to happen while the Sheppard's are still at Blackmoor for the next two years, what happens after that is anyone's guess.

I am hoping that we still have a pub, but anything could happen between now and then.

It has come to light, that a number of big figures in the Heritage world are less that impressed with the project as it stands and have said so. The thing is I can only see a lot of pain and bad feelings being released over the next few weeks and months.

A lot of this has been brewing for some time and the lose of Isaac in the past few years has been just one case in point. Although they won't admitted it I do have contacts at Woody Bay and I do care about how the working members get treated.

I have worked on a railway where the volunteers were treated with contempt and I didn't go back after that one day. But on another one it was great, Tea almost every hour and the guy in charge was very knowledgeable, he explains just how important we as volunteers were to the continued success of that project. Oh it was the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway by the way, I haven't been for a few years but I hope to go back there this year just for a visit.

 

Deleted- wrong thread.

 

You sure about that?

 

I'd like to add my support to Chris Duffell's statement from earlier. He will know that this will make his life within the trust even more difficult than it is already, but he has put conscience before convenience, and opened up the debate to a wider audience. To those who would have preferred him to keep schtum and maintain the pretence, I would say that in order to move forward, and somehow re-engage with the community after what has been, change is vital. Transparency, if not just plain honesty, has been conspicuous by its absence, and this needs to end.
Individuals like Chris deserve our support, because the future will need to look very different to how it currently is, and the sooner the better. Comments on Exmoor.ng are supportive. We cannot afford to lose "honest Injuns" like Chris, or Anne Belsey, however difficult the environment is being made for them, right now.