Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Indeed but that hasn’t stopped parracombe or blackmoor being aquired in recent years, my general question was if there is a particular difficulty with caffyns or if the opportunity just isn’t there yet.

 

I don't understand the relevance of that to EA, given that both PE and BR are north of Wistlandpound.??

 

I think the question was general and not specifically to EA

 

If I understand the new relationship between the two trusts correctly, then does it really matter who buys what trackbed as long as they are both open and honest about trackbed purchases with each other? All that really matters is that it belongs to the project.

Speaking to a friend in Lynton the other weekend at the AGM, the main reason why nothing has happened North of Woody Bay is the lack of money. It was hinted that it will not be cheap, but once one section is owned, others will almost certainly follow in a domino effect, and whoever buys the first bit will need to make sure they have enough money to buy all the rest in very quick succession.

If this is true, then it could change the whole look and approach to the rebuilding of the railway almost overnight. Maybe it is time to think in terms of a grant application so the project has access to the money to buy up any remaining trackbed that comes up for sale in the future.

I won't deny that rebuilding the railway from Woody Bay back to Lynton will be easy, but again my understanding is that there may well be more favourable landowners north of Woody Bay than we have been told about.

The only elephant in the room as far as Lynton is concerned is where the hell do you build the new station? Ask anyone in Lynton, and they will all have a different answer. If I recall correctly, many years ago the plan was to get to Lydiate Lane as a first stage and then work out what might be possible after that. For those that are interested, Woody Bay to Lydiate Lane is about 2 1/2 miles.

I also take the point that Woody Bay is not the ideal place to have a huge car park, and the long-term thinking about rebuilding the railway back to Lynton was to prevent too many cars in both Lynton and Lynmouth, but rebuilding this railway in a clear and organised way is not something you can always apply to this project; it would be great if we could, but I dont see it working out like that for us at present. The more I look at this, the more it becomes a chicken-and-egg scenario.

 

No grant awarding body would award money to the L&B (either group) so that they had money in the bank “just in case” a piece of land comes up for sale.

Perhaps long term it doesn’t matter who buys what piece of land, but for the present the North/South division of interests is probably the best approach. Of course this doesn’t stop either group from assisting the other with a purchase.

 

….

 

Removing the North-South Divide on the L&B - now it's in writing!
https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/news/view/lbrt-and-byvrt-sign-historic-memorandum-of-understanding

 

I wonder what is in the agreement? Can the BYVRT now buy trackbed anywhere?

 

Yes, and it also undertakes not to enrich Devon scones to greater than 3.8% jam on top for civilian use only, while in exchange the L&BRT will unlock billions in frozen assets and create a $300bn rebuilding fund,

(Sorry - couldn’t resist!)

Being serious - seems odd to have a fanfare about a new memorandum of understanding and then not put anything in the story as to what the terms are, even in broad brush terms? I’m sure it’s a welcome development, but I read the news story and was left thinking “and …?”

Tom

 

I think the point is that the two organisations are at a point where they can do so. That is in and of itself a significant step forward compared with where they were not so long ago.

 

Yes, quite, that's what I thought too !

 

I am glad we got this far. I expect to hear more details in the coming months. It's a bit early to say we are just one Trust, but I feel we are moving into that area with the L&BR Trust looking into governance issues; I think this has just taken on a whole new direction for the future of the whole project.

Congratulations all round, I think.

 

One railway perhaps. One Trust, probably not yet a while.

 

Yes, I concur; there is much to be discussed, and as far as I can make out, there are major differences between the groups. One is basically a membership group while the other is basically a shareholding group; each has an advantage over the other; it will be a brave person who sticks their head above the parapet to either offer advice or try to come up with a solution to all the differences between them.

What is more, I haven't even mentioned all the other side groups and how their relationship may change over time within all of this.

 

All shareholders of EA voted to pass on the land assets to the B&YVRT, of which we are now members.

 

A large majority certainly, but not all.

 

One of the key points about forging some actual progress towards the end goal of a reinstatement of at least a good section of the railway is that it is impossible to please everyone all the time.

 

The BYVRT is not encumbered by the issues created by multiple groups. The LBRT will have to address these legacy problems, and I think a period of focus upon that and running the Woody Bay railway undistracted by a desire to extend that the BYVRT can pursue more effectively for now is an all round good thing.

 

That is democracy however. I think it is a good thing overall.

 

It was, I believe, WS Churchill who said: "Democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all those other forms that have been tried."