Rother Valley Railway

I wonder what "TWAO powers have been exercised" actually means in physical terms on the ground? Does it translate into actual fencing adjustments to delineate the CPO acquired land as part of the RVR , or is it more of a symbolic thing?

 

I was wondering the same. Given the sensitivities with the local landowners, I wonder if this is a deliberately slightly vague (non-specific) statement? Being "magnanimous in victory" and good neighbours will be really important for the RVR.

 

Bearing in mind what a huge exercise fencing the remaining 2.5 miles of trackbed would be, particularly around the Christmas period, I would take this to mean gaining access for the necessary environmental studies, particularly on the western sector, which is cultivated land.
As the environmental studies will last until next autumn, Moat Farm should, theoretically at any case, be able to enjoy one final unimpeded growing season before fencing and civil engineering begins.

 

I suspect that the TWAO gives the right of access to undertake all the necessary survey works, which would include the wildlife study.

 

I would agree. An earlier entry on the RVR blog shows pictures of some fencing work although there are [I suspect deliberately] no details as to location. The cultivated land you refer to belongs to Parsonage rather than Moat Farm.

 

RVR announced some time ago environmental survey works had commenced - the TWAO includes powers for this which could be exercised by entering the land after giving notice to the landowners in the prescribed way.

However things’ve clearly moved on from there since the new RVR statement says: “Last month we exercised our TWAO powers and took possession of the trackbed between Austens Bridge and Northbridge Street meaning that the whole of the route from the KESR boundary to Station Road, Robertsbridge is under RVR control.”

If necessary there's a prescribed legal process for settling any unresolved land-value or compensation issues at a later date, but I doubt we'll hear anything more about this.

 

Comprehensive post with picture on the route just east of the A21 click here - more to follow on 28th January.

 

Yes it was it was great. I was fascinated to see the installation of a temporary scaffold bridge for access to the site.

 

Another posting of 'close up and personal' Track Survey has been posted on the RVR site. This time along section on of remaining railway foundation to the west of Salehurst Halt. There is a picture of one bridge where the steel work appears to be in amazing condition, though closer inspection in the field may reveal otherwise.

https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2024...b4_QVfy7hrm77rj-JRWAkTKzaV5Gz4G9sYj_19a7vWSQI

 

Great set of pictures. I am surprised how much of the embankment is still there in this part of the route - some of the fence posts seem to have survived.

 

I believe that bridge 'only' dates from about 1945, replacing an original of 1900.

 

You are referring to 'Austen's Bridge' which is at the other end of the 'missing link' just west of Junction Road. It crosses the River Rother and links the land which was purchaed by RVR a couple of years ago with the land acquired under the TWAO from Moat Farm. It sustained damage last year which according to a recent 'Pheonix' is repairable.

 

Whilst the beams may look sound, those trees growing out of the concrete abutments, don't look very good, i would imagine the abutments and the rest of the supports will need renewing, as will every bridge, on the route, after all, its been untouched for many years and nature will find its way into every single crack,

 

And to that end, the RVR has aquired the 2 large bridge sections which, until last week, have lain on the Top Field at Horsted Keynes for many years. Finally they will have a use!
Does anyone know if they have been delivered to Robertsbridge, or have they gone elsewhere (eg. Playfoots) for work?

 

Your question is answered in a recent post on the RVR blog. Click HERE.

 

Page comes up - not available .....

 

Just checked and it seems to have been taken down - I must have been too quick off the mark!

 

It was certainly there a couple of hours ago.

 

The blog has been updated with further trackbed pictures - click HERE - this is from Salehurst Halt to the land formally owned by Moat Farm.

 

Formerly...?

Ah, typos ....
We had an insulted fishplate recently.
Was it cross!