Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Money well spent then. Who knows? Even a little sanity could creep in. Time to review the business case?

 

Time to look at the greater project strategically imho

One would hope that further scarce funds are not wasted on an appeal.

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Not good news, no, but not unexpected either. Now, what WAS Plan B?

 

Cricket Field Lane planning application update - The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

 

The papers for the 06/05/25, 1:30pm meeting (including the Officers' report recommending refusal - Item 6.1 starting on page 6) are at:
Planning Committee | Exmoor

The report makes mention of the 90 letters of objection and 88 in support, but does not rely on them in the recommendation to refuse. The refusal is on Planning Policy grounds including the impact of detailed-matters as previously discussed in this thread, such as the intrusive embankment construction at CFL; and the proposal does not meet the ENPA's criteria (listed on p43) for reinstatement of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.

We don't yet know fully what the Members made of it but:
"The meeting will be recorded. ..... We will make the recording available via our website for members of the public to listen to and/or view, within 72 hours of the meeting taking place."

By sometime on Friday it should appear at: ENPA Authority Meetings - YouTube

 

Operate a road-train service starting from Killington Lane calling at Blackmoor, Bratton Fleming, Chelfham to Snapper Halt and return.

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Nooooo! Not with that blue and yellow livery!

 

There isn't really much to think about. The planners have made their position very clear. There seem to be only two options.
1. Go for broke and try again for the complete woody Bay to Blackmoor gate section. This requires an awful lot of work up front and a lot of fund raising. It requires a stepchange in the running of the trust and a whole different approach to that which we have had previously. But my opinion is that it is doable. I think the authorities will be far more inclined to an ambitious plan than a tiny thing. But it needs to be professionally thought out and presented. I don't think the current trustees can do this.
2. South from Blackmoor Gate. I don't think this has been tested with the planners, but at some point will need to happen if the whole line is to be reopened.
I really see no other options at the moment. Option 1 is probably a 5 year timescale to get approval. Option 2 might be implemented more quickly. I guess both can go hand in hand, but they both need a sea change in the makeup and nature of the trust and the wider organisation. Nothing will happen if things just stay as they are

 

Ok I must have missed that. What extent is the permission? How far can the line be developed?

 

Only as far as Wistlandpound. Rather a lot of water in the way after that !

 

It seems a time of reckoning has arrived for the Trust- swallow your hubris, and show a white flag to EA/YVT. The only way is south from here, at least for the foreseeable future. If Community Ownership Fund (or whatever suceeds it) can be brought into play, then there is a real alternative south of Wistlandpound through to BF and beyond

 

Is Blackmoor Gate to Wistpoundland actually any longer than the existing line? In the short term what advantage would it offer?

 

In the short term, it would show a visible footprint south of the Parracombe redoubt. In the longer term, there is a potential viability which will depend on the policy of central government (yes, I know - something they decide might actually work in our favour!)

 

I wouldn't think there is much difference between them but that section already has approved planning permission, the only condition being that the road bridge at Blackmoor should be built first,there is also some track bed that needs to be purchased/negotiated for. The main thought by some is that by linking the pub and the reservoir there will be an attraction at either end, visitors to the pub could catch a train for a walk around the reservoir and those visiting the reservoir could ride to the pub for a drink/meal, so possibly increasing football at the pub, the link doesn't necessarily have to be steam so would encourage a visit to Woody Bay for the real heritage experience.
The importance of increasing footfall at the pub is because of the apparently large investment in that business that has been made by the L&BR trust so that it can be made as profitable as possible

 

I welcome the Trust's statement to reflect and consult; it is unsurprising that the Panel voted 7-0-1 against a proposal its own Planners recommended rejecting. Lets be clear - NO ONE voted in favour of this, and this near unanimity is the end of an extension from the existing set up at Woody Bay until we can secure all of the land from WB to Blackmoor Gate/OSHI, extending in a single jump.

We should be honest that this could take a decade or more.

What is critical is what happens now: I hope the Trust recognises that Woody Bay extensions are dead in the water, and that no more money should be wasted on them.

Instead, the imperative to bring the whole L&B family together under neutral chairing - one of the railway vicars, for instance - and develop some real options on reinstatement elsewhere, with the goal of connecting back to Woody Bay in time. This should obviously involve the L&BR Trust, EA/YVT and anyone else minded to support the reinstatement.

There should be no "winners" or "losers" from this - no one is bigger than the railway, and we need to pull together to come up with workable, fundable options which can then be put to the L&B family.

I hope that this is what the Trustees say at the meeting in Lynton the weekend after next.

 

It isn’t clear to me that the Trust have learnt anything. Their statement says they plan to present options at the AGM. For heaven’s sake enough. Stop, take a bit of time to consider next steps. Build some bridges with people and organisations. Rushing headlong into the “next thing” is how we got from a failed development to a refused planning application.

 

The Trust needs to stop, reflect and listen. They should realise that railway is bigger than any of us....