Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Absolutely, the ENPA can't consider financial viability beyond the proposed economic benefit of the lines reinstatement. When I used to be involved in planning it was a relentless argument made by people against projects, despite repeatedly telling them it was of no value whatsoever!

 

What interests me is how the objectors assume that the normal rules for financing public transport will apply, and pay no regard to the economic model by which heritage schemes have been successful.

 

Presumably because it doesn't sit well with the "narrative" they are presenting.

 

In some cases, I don't doubt this is true! But in other instances I suspect it is a simple lack of understanding of how the volunteer-supported heritage railway business model has worked elsewhere, and a failure to appreciate the appeal of the railway to the visitor market.

Let's be honest - a business model based on folks giving up their time and labour for free to operate antiquated vehicles, in order to transport passengers far more slowly than they would otherwise have travelled, looks like complete nonsense!

To my mind, the most joyful thing about this improbable proposition is that it turns out to be both financially viable, and economically extremely beneficial to the local area!

 

Indeed so! This project carries a massive amount of goodwill from well beyond these shores, and with goodwill comes funding, amongst other things.
One of the things that has been made much of by the objectors is that the line was closed as unprofitable (I still don't understand where this assertion about the line going bankrupt twice came from)

But one of the counterpoints I made in my letters of support is the fact that EVERY SINGLE heritage railway line prospering in this country today has as its basis a line which was originally closed as uneconomic.
It's hardly nuclear physics, but these people cannot, (or more likely will not) see it.

 

The L&B's business plan references Dr Megan Williams' 2008 report into the contribution made to the local economy by the FR and WHR. I'm sure many folks will already be aware of this work, but I hadn't previously seen it, and I was astonished by the figures.

 

I hadn't realised quite how much of that property's land is affected, I've just checked the extent of their farm and there's actually nearly 2/3 of a mile of the route across their land, including the collapsed part of the embankment.

 

A very interesting read. I seem to recall a similar report concerning the Bluebell.

In the Ffesterbahn report the figure which amused me was the per head spend (statistically speaking, the larger the number of answers, the more representative they are and the 'average' would therefore be the least meaningless number to quote). Unless split by 'solo vs family' answers, the 'sample spread' rather indicates reponses by a (let's just say) limited number of responents and/or were dependent on who else was hovering around during the survey.

 

Good to see the Railway's response to some of the recent mudslinging:

http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov....ments from the applicant dated 2017.11.23.pdf

The response to point 6 is particularly interesting...

 

Mrs grob sounds absolutely horrible.

 

Omnatopoeic!

 

Personally I hope she lives long enough to see the railway run past her house, become the premier tourist attraction of the area and bring the local economy lots of money...

 

Isn't it just! Safe to assume point 6 is supported by hard evidence, because the folks at the L&B aren't daft. Neither are the overwhelming majority of Exmoor folks who, unlike the NIMBY brigade, live in the real world and recognise the value of the L&B to the financial wellbeing of the district.

I rather liked No.8 as well, especially as any attempt by mock local locals to claim to speak for genuinely local locals would now inevitably shine a very bright light just where it would do most good. Guess into which group the loudest objector falls ...... go on, you'll never guess .....

I notice too that this broadside is specifically aimed at just the NIMBY element. Other outstanding issues, with basis in reality rather than ranting, would (quite properly) appear to be subject to ongoing negotiations without the involvement of megaphone diplomacy.

That planning meeting should be an interesting one, as and when it eventually occurs.

 

Perhaps DCI Barnby should be in attendance
I'd love to know what this "misogyny" business is all about, too, or wheher it's just a case of chucking around politically charged buzzwords to get some attention...

 

Yes and have the drivers of the locomotives just politely smile and wave at her as they pass, as she no doubt will just grumble and glare at the passing trains, resenting how the world dared not to side with her... How very dare they, putting the economic beneifits of area above her own personal issues such as her view of the countryside getting blocked briefly by these infernal oversized kettles...

 

"Horseless carriages! Tsshh! Next we know it'll be flying machines..."

 

I doubt even Dirk Gently could make much sense of anything from that particular direction.

 

Mr Grob Sr is of course an incomer himself.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/3342564/Pioneers-who-blazed-a-trail-to-the-West.html

 

That is Grob W, and presumably junior to Grob D, so probably true. if it is the case, then that's probably the only factual statement contained in his 3-ring circus of a letter.

 

Sorry for making a rather less serious observation at this moment, but dosen't the name "Mr Grob" sound like just the sort of name you'd find for a villain in a children's book?

I can't be the only one right?