Rother Valley Railway

The parish council might not have much impact on the re instating of the line, the relevant bodies, have already given their go ahead, However, once Robertsbridge ( RVR) Becomes an active operating station, I would imagine that then the Parish Council could have an impact, on such things as impact to residents, businesses, and such concerns, lets say a resident near the station complains about engines whistling, or smoke, might the council want to become involved, or is that not with in their remit?

 

Environmental issues like that would be the domain of Rother District, rather than the parish.

 

The latest addition to the RVR blog details the final fettling of the turntable:


The sheer dedication of Playfoot's engineering skills are more than apparent. Surely this project should be nominated for an HRA award?
More here:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

Would you really want to be associated with the HRA at the moment?

 

Well, I don't know, some sort of award, anyway. God knows they deserve it.

 

That’s something I won’t disagree with.

 

There have been quite a few updates on the news blog section of the RVR website. Members are receiving the latest copy of Pheonix together with a new Restoration Bulletin. Hopefully environmental work will be able to start shortly.

 

Got mine - this includes the news that environmental surveys etc. may take up to a year to complete, this is a planning permission requirement which must be completed before major construction works commence. No doubt other works, including at Robertsbridge Station, will continue during this period.

 

There are a lot of Ground works taking place in the engine shed area - maybe the shed and inspection pit will be put in sooner rather than later.

 

It would make sense, as at least this work can carry on unimpeded whilst the necessary conditions of the TWAO are fulfilled. I'm guessing that completion of the station building will be left as late as possible, to avoid payment of business rates on an unused asset.

 

I'm not sure who owns what, but the RVR heritage trust is a charity and charities get relief from business rates. Maybe 80%.

 

But there is still 20% to pay - no point starting construction until you need to. The ground works have been done so the foundations are in.

 

My understanding is that the station works, including the carriage shed, are under existing planning permissions, rather than part of the TWAO. As a result, they can be completed much sooner. I would hope that the shed, and the rail to it, will be completed sooner rather than later, to give the RVR a chance to get their shunters out of the weather!

 

The works at the station are part of other planning consent(s). The planning consent for the reinstatement of the line between North Bridge Street and Junction Road is current and work has been started - a small amount of track has been laid in the section between Junction Road and Austen's Bridge. The main purpose of the TWAO is to enable access to and Purchase of the 2 lenghts of trackbed which the landowners have refused to sell.

 

Following expiry of the deadline for any High Court challenge the TWA Order was made and signed on 12/07/23; and is now on-line at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/815/contents/made

The Order gives RVR the statutory powers they need for (amongst other things):

• Entering land to carry out surveys & Compulsory Purchase if necessary;
• Building level crossings on the highways;
• Operating the railway between Bodiam and Robertsbridge, and licensing the K&ESR Co. to run the railway;
• Charging fares to the public.

Congratulations to them!!

 

In some ways it's a relief that there isn't going to be any further challenges to the order, So hopefully the necessary preparation work can start,

 

Exactly - looking forward to news about when the environmental work will start. The Order states that it comes into effect on 2nd August - so maybe nothing will happen "on the ground" until then.

 

I suspect that they will want to get the Engine Shed ground work done at Robertsbridge before anything heavy starts. However, the RVR have been very good with their environmental work, (contrary to the rumours spread locally), and I expect that everything will be planned thoroughly before work starts.

 

Here's a link to the RVR site with the latest news brochure following the making of the TWA Order:

https://tinyurl.com/yd63xfpw

Click on the picture of the front cover and using the arrows at the top you can flick your way though. We are particularly proud of the pictorial map in the center fold!

Hope you enjoy reading it.

Mike Hart.

 

Thank you, Mike, for that lovely presentation. Rick Hatfield's charming and humorous map is a real highlight. Looking forward to the time of first boots on the ground!