Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

In which case it will be an ideal companion for the running-in board now installed at Snapper Halt which is also a modern reproduction provided and paid for by the L&BR Trust (Surrey Support Group).

Clearly, this new auction item is a similar reproduction, and there is no reason whatsoever why modern reproductions of any item cannot be used in restoring a heritage railway providing they are aesthetically exact replicas of the original items.

This first photo shows the original pre-1935 'Down' running board as was provided at
the Barnstaple end of Snapper Halt (where a further sign is still required).​

This photo shows the existing 'Up' running-in board at the Chelfham end of Snapper Halt
shortly after it was installed a few years ago.​

 

Looks well to me and I'd imagine there's less danger of some demented kleptomaniac strolling off with it! I do like the lengths of track as a firm statements of intent at locations which won't see services any time soon.

 

I checked the Exmoor National Park Authority website planning pages today. It has this comment:-
Comments for planning applications: 62/50/22/007, 62/50/22/008, 62/50/22/009, 62/50/22/010 & 62/50/22/011.
Please be aware that given the number of letters of representations that we have received there is currently a delay in processing comments and therefore it is taking longer than usual for the comments to show on the website. We will endeavour to upload your comments as quickly as possible, and your patience would be very much appreciated.
This relates to the L & B Section 73 applications and is one reason why the decision is delayed.

 

I thought that the cutoff date for submissions was long past. They shouldn't even be considering stuff this late, unless its from statutory consultees, surely?

 

Sounds to me as if they're talking about pre-cutoff submissions they've not yet had time to get round to dealing with. My money is on "delays due to the pandemic"!

 

Ha! Yes, and no doubt there will soon be a choice of pandemics, too.
Lucky us.
About a week ago, I finally found the time (and patience) to access the ENPA portal, and the number of submissions seemed to be roughly similar to those of a few weeks previous.
One thing I did notice was the amount of apparent spamming from objectors, ie cut n' paste text, all seemingly identical, with no paragraphs, nor punctuation to speak of. Just solid blocks of words. A daunting prospect for any planning officer to be faced with. Perhaps that is the intention?

 

I had a look the other day and frustratingly neighbour comments do not show a date in the index - so you are able to see which are the most recent. New comments do not always go at the end.

 

Recent information suggests that this item has been sold previously at auction, the last time in 1990 so if it is a repro it's considerably older than the repro that's in place at Snapper now

 

Exmoor Associates planning application to rebuild the goods shed at Bratton Fleming Station has now gone on North Devon District Councils website

https://planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Planning/Display/75454

 

On a minor point, I note from the plans that while 'gents' will get a shower and changing lockers in addition to toilets, 'lades & disabled' will not. Is the apparent assumption therefore that only gentlemen will do work which will necessitate such extra facilities - seems rather outwith the current fad for 'diversity & inclusion' etc . Just saying....

 

That's a bit strong on young men - don't they qualify for being regarded as Gentlemen any longer ?

 

That looks like a reason to object.

 

I do wonder though, as it is intended for private use of EA members only and presumably also the tenant of the station, rather than 'open to the public', then maybe such considerations do not apply?

 

A bit off putting to any potential female/disabled volunteers though...

 

From the plan, as far as I can see, the ladies and disabled does include a quadrant shaped shower cubicle.

 

I think you may be right. Mind you, I'm not sure about the proposed arrangement for the access doors, which might prove difficult to negotiate with a wheelchair - and I've had some experience of that pushing around a relative who was confined to a wheelchair.

Mind you, as a (normally, but not quite at the moment :-( ) able-bodied person, I've been in toilets where even just wearing a back-pack has prevented me getting in and shutting the door !

 

If you look carefully - it would prove difficult to negotiate for anyone. I think the doors are hung the wrong way round. [I did show it to my daughter who is an architect and she said 'no comment'!]

 

...Even NR can fail at this as the saga of the new Ammenity block at Market Harborough station has recently shown!!