Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

It did take a while but loaded eventually.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one having issues with the link..........

 

Are they on display in a dark basement in a filing cabinet in a disused lavatory marked "beware of the leopard"?

In terms of why could someone object to a railway - we do need to remember it's our hobby, not theirs. They may simply not like the idea.

 

After they failed to prevent the original grant of planning permission, it's not surprising that they would jump at another chance, however slim it may be.

 

Sadly I suspect that they will continue to do this at each and every opportunity, however spurious or tenuous their argument may be. It merely serves to prolong the process, clog up the planning system, and cost the L&BR time effort and money to respond on each and every occasion. Fortunately I think by now we can rely on the relevant authorities to see behind the 'correspondence blizzard' and understand the true nature of the situation. At the end of the day this is local democracy in action and we all have to play by the rules.
Keep the faith...

 

The point about CP powers being needed is illustrated here. Either CP or a ridiculous amount of cash to persuade the objectors by buying their property at way over market price ...

 

There is a National Trust property in Surrey called Polesdon Lacey once owned by a wealthy Margaret Grenville who features in the history of the house.
She hosted weekend house parties and a highlight of the afternoons would be relaxing in the gardens.

Maybe simular in lifestyle to what the current owners of the large house do who are objecting?.
It could be they also spent a lot of money buying their house and want to relax in the gardens. However if a steam railway is built nearby they will be affected.
They probably would not be interested in selling part of their land at any price and will fight any compulsory purchase of part of their land.
Talks with them to show disruption will be minimal seem to have failed.
No easy way forward. A way out might be to move the route further away from the house nearer the main road?.

 

I get the impression that in one particular well-known case it could be "absolutely no sale at any price", so a resort to CP sadly may be necessary.

 

I do not believe this is possible. AIUI the strip of former track-bed in question is not that close to the objectors' house anyway, but forms part of their wider estate. It may well be that they own land on both side of the trackbed anyway.

 

They will, and they are entitled to their view; whether it should be definitive is perhaps more the question. As we see on HS2, the emotions raised by some projects far outweigh the actual impact of them. As for the alignment, I suspect that would open up far more cans of worms.

 

I think those of us who would like to see the railway back would do best to hold our peace about objectors, and not speculate too much on open forums about what the railway should do about it.
I'm not saying we shouldn't talk about it, but the railway can do without anyone's back being got up, and if we're friends to the railway, let's be diplomatic.
They're working hard at this and could do without any friendly fire.

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Please be aware that this discussion is in a public forum that anyone with an internet connection can access and read. There is, therefore, a real risk that some of the landowners with whom the L&B have to negotiate with may well have had sight of the ruthless comments about them posted here recently.

As a result, I have been requested by one of the senior members of the L&BR board to post here asking you not to be so antagonistic when discussing the remaining sections of trackbed still required to complete the formation between Killington Lane and Wistlandpound. In particular, the application for a Transport & Works Order has not yet been submitted, so at this time there is no point in even publically suggesting that the Compulsory Purchase option will necessarily be required. Please be aware that the L&B does not confront landowners in a forceful manner, preferring instead to negotiate purchases in a polite manner. Please support them in this principal.

Finally, I would convey to you that back in 1979 (the year the L&BR Association was established) there were according to my count, eighteen (18) separate trackbed sections between Killington Lane and Wistlandpound, each retained by different landowners. Without exception, all of these eighteen (18) trackbed sections are needed to reinstate the line. As of now, the L&B has already either purchased or reached an agreement to buy or lease all the required trackbed from all but three (3) landowners. But rest assured the required purchasing activity remains ongoing.

 

Well said.

 

There is enough vehemence in the WSR thread; we don't need another West Country thread in the same vein. Support the L&B, please do not retard it.

 

Some photos and a video, that may be of interest, have appeared on Exmoor Associates Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ExmoorAssociates

 

Certainly a case of one step back on one forward. With a step forward on another, more power to their elbow, I say.........

 

It is good to see wheels moving on track! Well Done the "Snapper Team".
I looked back to P112, post #2240, and it says that there is 800 yds of track bed at Snapper. Is the plan to lay more track beyond the station limits?

 

it would be nice to extend the track in both directions beyond the curves at each end of the station,EA share holder money cannot be used for this as that is specifically used to purchase track bed,the approx 150 ft of track at Snapper cost somewhere in the region of £2000 for ballast,sleepers and digger/driver and was donated by members because they wanted to see track at the halt,there is a track fund within EA so if and when funds become available then we will add to what we have,we used jarrah wood sleepers because of their longevity but they are about £50 each and because of delivery costs it makes sense to order a good amount at a time,ballast was sourced locally at about £380 for 16 tons,we have room to store both ballast and sleepers and when we have a supply of both on site we can look at extending our little piece of running line

 

Thank you Meatman for your detailed reply......so we just need to send our cheques to the EA "Track Fund" or do we also need to specify Snapper track fund?

 

hi,if you very kindly wish to make a donation to the track fund you can specify either as Snapper is the only place we would be laying track