Rother Valley Railway

That URL is not for the blog; the new entry there is here.

Noel

 

The Bridge is owned by the adjoining land owner [Moat Farm] who have erected a fence on the east side - there was a large 'End of the Line' banner on this fence which was removed and replaced with a hand painted one which is just visible in the blog pictures. The maps submitted with the planning application and the TWAO show ownership of the various parts of the trackbed. Moat Farm belonged to Mrs de Quincy until her death.

 

Thanks fot that, HC. I'd noticed that homemade looking banner in the photo, and did wonder what the wording on it was. Thats quite a thing, owning a substantial, derelict bridge over a major watercourse, with all the long term responsibility that goes with it.

 

I think the original banner was erected a couple of years ago when trackbed walks were taking place following the purchase by RVR of the land by Junction Road. There is a picture of it on one of the older RVR blogs. I read somewhere that the bridge is in good condition although close inspection has not been possible. I suspect that maintenance of the various bridges and culvets was a condtion of the sale of the land by British Rail.

 

Photo of Austen's Bridge in August 1980 - I hope that's long enough ago not to be accused of trespassing! It was fabricated by EG & J Keay Ltd, Darlaston, in 1945, so no doubt better than any of the bridges between Tenterden Town and Bodiam as originally built by Stephens...

 

From facebook - Robertsbridge page...

Info about the RVR public inquiry. Pre-inquiry meeting will start 24.2.20 at Woodlands Enterprise Centre Flimwell. Public Inquiry to start 26.5.2020, probably at Robertsbridge CC for first 4 days then at the Woodlands Centre. A bus will be available if needed. Info about level crossings proposals will be put on the website http:/rother-valley.persona-pi.com/ The Office of Road and Rail expects to issue an opinion in early 2020 on whether there are "exceptional circumstances" to justify a departure from its policy of no new( or reinstated) level crossings. Once issued, this opinion will be put on the inquiry website. Also will be available in Battle Library.

Not sure where the person who posted this has got their information since the Inquiry website has not been updated yet. Watch this space.

 

I don't use Facebook but I did get a letter from the DfT this morning with much the same information.

 

No doubt I will get a similar letter shortly. DfT have a lot of letters to send out regarding the Inquiry and there are inevitable postal delays at this time of year. The person who put the post on facebook is one of the objectors.

 

Looks like the line will run in a green tunnel in the pictures with all those new planted trees. Good for dormice but not perhaps passengers wanting to look at the river valley.

 

I got one too, one concern I have is this, what if the ORR decides there is no exceptional case for the level crossing over the A21, won't that kill the whole scheme, if it means bridging the A21, with new earthworks it would mean a gradient from Northbridge Street far greater than the already severe 1 in 50 Tenterden bank.

 

My letter arrived this morning. We will have to wait and see what ORR say - since RVR have been in discussions with ORR - I suspect that they [RVR] have an indication of the way ORR are thinking.
Lets hope for a satisfactory solution.

 

Start making plans for the Robertsbridge viaduct to take the railway over the A21, and over the farmers fields , a nice trestle one should do fine, might need a good run up at it from Bodiam though i bet the protesters would still find something to protest about though.

 

Need a even bigger run up from Robertsbridge! I suspect that a road bridge to carry the A21 over would be cheaper. I think that the submission to the ORR had to cost the alternatives for the A21 as part of the case for "exceptional circumstances". No doubt there will be more information in the next RVR newsletter.

 

Another email sent yesterday with the agenda for the preliminary meeting.

 

Ah, a meeting to discuss what going to be discussed at the meeting.

 

I understand Amber Rudd is no longer MP for Hastings? Does that change anything?

 

Dunno, but the new incumbent seems nice... https://www.theguardian.com/politic...vestigation-sally-ann-hart-hastings-candidate

 

Someone with entrenched Victorian values ? , as long it doent infringe on a Hunt or Golf course it will be plain sailing...

 

As far as I’m aware Amber Rudd did not lodge an objection to the TWA Order. Her previous objection to the planning application was ignored by the (fellow Conservative) councillors when they granted planning permission.

 

I believe that her concern was more about the impact on the A21, but it has to be pointed out that her successor is very much against the railway extension, or was when she was tourism councillor on her old council seat , yes a councillor who's job it was to increase the tourism in Rother, was against something that could help to bring trade back to Robertsbridge, One final question, is the Hoad, in the news recently about the animal activists raid on their chicken farm, and subsequent RSPCA inspection and damming report about conditions , the same family that own some of the track bed?