Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

I've attached an image of the form letter currently in use. It's an online scan from a scanned photocopy, so I apologise for the quality. The redacted original submissions are available on the NDC website mentioned above.

In the interests of balance, I have also created an alternative in support of the railway as a PDF.

Please feel free to use it as you will: a visit to https://planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Planning/Comment/70504 may give you some ideas!

 

A recent post on the L and B facebook page contains an helpful statement from the railway concerning their intentions concerning the 'Old Station House Inn'. Having looked at the documents submitted for the planning application, I am unsure why there have been suggestions that it would result in the closure of the pub. The planning application is the same as the earlier one which has now lapsed.

 

They have also, very even handedly, posted the building owners side of the dispute which helps in understanding the sort of issues which need to be tackled with diplomacy (and probably money).

 

The application does seem to imply the old building will be redeveloped?
On Facebook loks like one of the pub owners family has said the pub restaurant and family home is not for sale and people should reject the application (there was a earlier suggestion they want to retire)
If this is the case it is not clear if there will just be a new station, car park and the line will just pass by as another post suggests.

 

If it's not for sale, then those of us who invested in the Railway's company to run it (expecting some actual return) should get our money back. It's now years after the time which the original scheme suggested, and the purchase now seems not be going to happen. Those of us wanting some return as well as helping the L&B have seen the share purchase deadline extended again and again, and the whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth. I look forward to the promised return of share capital if the purchase fell through, though not holding my breath....!

 

I wonder what has changed since the original planning application was granted. At that time there seems to have been some sort of agreement to purchase the Inn subject to negotiating a price and other matters.
L and B will shortly be applying for a TWAO which could give them Compulsory Purchase powers to acquire the trackbed. Of course if they are able to negotiate and purchase the land needed in advance [which is in everybody's interest] they won't need to use these powers. The trackbed might not include the Inn.
From the plans it would seem that the pub/restaurant stays as it is with an extension to house the station. The trackbed and platforms are in a different position from when the line was open to enable the outside space of the Inn to stay as it is. The sticking point would seem to be therefore the conversion of the accomodation into a railway museum, offices and flat. The L and B facebook post states that they do not intend to move the current owners out of their home without their agreement.

 

Martin

I have to say that I am very surprised and extremely disappointed to read your comments!

They say that Rome was not built in a day - neither has the reinstatement of the iconic Lynton & Barnstaple Railway occured that swiftly, but it has and very much is making progress.

Think of just some of the things which have happened in recent years:

The arrival at Woody Bay of the magnificent Heritage Carriages
The arrival at Woody Bay of the replica LYN - I know full well that you were a major contributor to the success of that particular project
The recent work to restore Bridges 54 and 55

Those headlines are just the tip of the iceberg - masses more has and is happening

More patience and continued optimism is required. If we weren't optimists at heart then we would never have joined the L&B in the first place!

Mike P

 

That post now seems to have disappeared...

Keith

 

Its still up on the Old Station House Inn f'book page ?

As an outsider looking in its not a good look however much many enthusiast want's the railway to succeed your not exactly helping your cause - more jaw jaw required with the pub owners would appear to be needed, although I've no idea what's going on in the background but reading that f'book posting it certainly looks like a own goal situation.

 

I’m distinctly curious about who buys railway company shares as an investment with a hoped for financial return. I’ve always taken such purchases on my own account simply as a financial donation, and the “return on investment” as it were simply being the enjoyment gained from thereby seeing a scheme develop.

(And yes, I am aware that in a legal sense such share purchases are subject to the same financial controls as any share purchase. Which is one reason why my preference is to recognise fundraising for what it is - altruism, not investment - and therefore concentrate such schemes under an umbrella of donation to a charity rather than share purchase in a company).

Tom

 

Yes it is. Another of their posts there is asking for people to object and has received a lot of comments.

 

I think the distinction here is that in this particular case I seem to recall it was marketed as an investment in the more typical sense, rather than the more common "investment" in the heritage industry, which as you say are generally just financial donations.

 

In that case - who puts money into a Pub as an investment

Tom

 

It's to be hoped that such investors exist, or we'll eventually run out of pubs.

 

An Alcoholic!

 

The planing application seems to include the pub and the owners seem to be worried about the Compulsory Purchase powers which seems to why they want the planing application rejected. Also the market is concerned about the land.
Would it not be better to get a price sorted for the land purchase for the new station and car park with the owners, then resubmit the planing application without the changes to the pub building and ensure there is space for the matket to continue?.

 

So many pubs have closed in recent years that it seems we may indeed eventually run out of pubs.

 

I think there will always be plenty of gullible investors ...

Tom (with apologies for inadvertently causing thread drift from what was initially a serious point!)

 

The application wording hasn't changed since it was approved in 2016, and refers to a change of use (of the site) in terms of:
"CHANGE OF USE OF PUBLIC HOUSE TO RAILWAY STATION TO INCLUDE RESTAURANT, CAFÉ & EXTENSION TO HOUSE TICKET HALL & SHOP, CHANGE OF USE OF DWELLING TO RAILWAY MUSEUM, OFFICES & FLAT TOGETHER WITH FORMATION OF PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS TO RAILWAY CAR PARK"

This can be interpreted in several ways, and in particular, there is no mention of "PUBLIC HOUSE" post-change, so some fear the pub may close. There is also concern about converting the present accommodation into a museum, and some have assumed that the railway car park (which comes under ENPA planning) is to be on the site of the current livestock market, which is again erroneous.

 

Had a look on the Old Railway Inn Facebook page they corrected someone about the market and car park.
But although on on L and B Facebook page the statement about not wanting to force the family out is clear, the planning application is progressing with the unclear wording from 2016, so they are asking support for the refusal.

Would it not be better for the community if the current planning application is withdrawn and a little bit of money spent on a revised planning application which will get their support?