Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Topic shift!
I have a near pristine copy of 'The L&B railway, Measured and Drawn' by Stephen Phillips and Michael Bishop for sale. Sought after and out of print 'bible' of all L&B enthusiasts. Extremely good condition, reflected in the asking price of £60. Postage costs take account of this book being sent from the Republic of Ireland (postage is cheaper within the island of Ireland). Postage to GB is £18 inclusive of insurance and tracking. Photos available on request. See also entry on Facebook Narrow Gauge enthusiasts - for Sale.

 

Stephen Phillips and Michael Bishop please, as per the loose insert hopefully still in this 250-page book. As I have probably mentioned on this site before, I prepared 83% of the drawings from surveys and all available information which were transcribed and published here without permission, notice or credit, and provided the information and original drawings for the other 17%, along with my own photographs and those belonging to others which I hadn't (then) asked to be allowed to be published. And the joint copyright notices on the transcribed drawings were removed.

The circlet (crest) featuring in the advert for a fitter in most Magazines this month and credited to S. PHILLIPS was transcribed from an original I scanned at the NRM for use with the rest of my drawings in my then intended book.

 

Hi Michael maybe you should mention this at the AGM to remind the Trustees about such things the date has been set for the 13 May this year

 

Thomas, Do you know whether the original website, which is currently listed at the foot of the new website as 'Archive Website', is still active? This was the place where Trust Members were given early information concerning L&BR happenings. Nothing has been communicated via this medium since 18th October 2022. I can't believe that nothing needs to be communicated. Will there be somewhere listed on the new site or is it just all too hard? I'm not blaming just seeking information.

 

I’ve pm’d you. Am interested in the book if it’s not been sold

 

Whilst I understand the points made by Thomas Woods about the arrangements for L&BR events still being in preparation, I do agree with the comments from those who argue that any sort of news about the events - even if just along the lines of "there will be events, but we've yet to decide exactly what and when" - would be far better that no news at all. Otherwise there is risk that people will assume that the L&BR are cutting back and not doing any events this year at all and won't bother to keep checking.

I agree also that the status /purpose of the 'archive' website needs to be clarified to members. I still search - usually in vain - for any updates to the members-only section, in the desperate hope of getting even the most basic facts about the current situation with the Sec 73 applications :-(

To mis-quote a former PM - we need three things: more communication, better communication, speedier communication

 

There was actually an update to the "archive" (pre-2020) site yesterday! This was for an area group event though, and not on the member's page, which seems not to be being maintained by the current web team since they took over in May.

 

... and today, news of the 125 Anniversary Event on 13/14 May: https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/events/view/2023-anniversary-event

 

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Attention drawn again to Facebook 'Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts - for sale' group, where I am advertising the following:
"5 L&B short books: 'The L&B from the Air', 'Flying the L&B', 'Modelling the L&B', 'L&B Journey', and the Eric Leslie drawings collection 'A Narrow Gauge Album'. Selling as a single lot for £25.00 and thus cannot split. Postage from Ireland to GB will be about £11.00." PM me if interested.

 

Any news available about anything that might have been decided at the ENPA meeting listed on their website for the 7th ? Maybe waiting for that explains why the Magazine due at the end of January (and a newsletter ?) hasn't come through my letterbox yet. Or are we waiting for the March meeting before the Sec. 73 proposal will be discussed ?

 

It wasn't on the Agenda - it seems that there is a consultion for some further modifications to the S73 application. No doubt the newsletter is being held until there is someting to report on this front.

 

AIUI once the 30-day consultation period has ended, then the responses will have to be collated and in due course a Report produced that will go with the paper for whatever meeting it will appear on the Agenda. Given that such papers are usually sent out about 2 weeks before a meeting, I fail to see how it will be possible to get the Sec 73 applications discussed at the March 7th meeting anyway. Short of some sort of 'procedural tweeking' - which no doubt would be open to legal challenge - my feeling is that the whole Phase 2A process is now a 'dead duck' as the planning consents will expire next month:-(

I shall be more than happy to be proved wrong, but I wonder how.....

 

We shall have to wait and see what happens. I know it's frustrating to not know exactly whats going on - but I feel sure that there is good reason to keep things quiet.

 

What for five years? Sorry I don't buy into that.

 

My post was in reply to a post about the S73 application which was submitted in May 2022 - hardly 5 years.

 

@H Cloutt - perhaps the fairer question is whether the TWAO application has been made yet? If not, why not - given that it is the only route to acqiring the land required to actually build the extension south of Parracombe Halt and, (if I understand the situtation correctly) the permissions to operate it.

 

I am pretty certain that it has not been made yet. This is a course which is not to be started lightly. I think anyone who has follwed the RVR through this process will realise that it a costly exercise.

 

IMHO it also remains an 'unaswered question' as to whether or not a TWAO would be required even just for the KL-PE section, given the number of public rights-of-way along the route. Opinions seem to vary on this, but if there is a definitive legal answer than I have yet to see one.

As for the Sec 73 applications, I am still waiting to see if anyone can explain exactly how - given that today is Feb 10th - the chronology of events that are required for the applications to actually appear on the Agenda and be determined at a future ENPA meeting before the planning consents expire can be achieved.....

 

My mistake it is that it has taken five years without any real progress or a funding plan put in front of the membership so it just feels like a great lost or a lost opportunity in my book.