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Southwold Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Bar Side, May 7, 2012.

  1. James Hewett

    James Hewett New Member

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    We are working on that. Rampant Nimbyism means that around here it's rare for villagers (mostly part-timers) to join and become active - the usual feeling is "OK, but not here..."
    BUT - things are looking up: thanks to support from people who live within - say - 10 or 15 miles, and of course from people on this forum (thanks) we now have been granted full planning permission for the work already done at Blythburgh Station. Yes, it's just ensuring we don't have to dismantle everything - but still a big win, and the first time since the SRT'S "Steamworks" consent that the local authority have shown such support for the concept of railway restoration. We were surprised and pleased by the positive reactions of the various organisations whose consent was essential - Natural England, Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB (now "National Landscape"), Suffolk Highways, Anglian Water, and so on. Within two days of the decision we applied for the next consent - for some railway infrastructure onsite, and for the first section of the track extension to the west. We already own most of the rail for this: it's only 9 chains, but after that we have a public footpath crossing to deal with, so we thought - one thing at a time!
    Meanwhile we have the right to run Open Days at what is now a railway heritage centre, so we immediately booked some of these: May 11th, July 20th, and September 14th. These will for the moment continue to be free (we may not be able to keep that up for ever!), so please come and see us (or indeed just drop in any Tuesday after 7th January).
    To make this work we'll need a lot more members and volunteers (not to speak of cash!) - but it seems that the first step towards officially enshrining the concept of the restoration of at least part of the original, historic SR has been taken.
    James
     

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  2. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    This is excellent news. For a while, I genuinely thought that you were going to lose here.
     
  3. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    James, this is absolutely wonderful news! I must come up for a visit this year.
    Its particularly encouraging that you have the support of the statutory bodies, going forward. Does this now mean that the guns of the uber-objector and their cronies have been spiked?
     
  4. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's worth reading the last few documents on the planning portal.
     
  5. StoneRoad

    StoneRoad Member

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    Well Done, very pleased that you got the planning consent sorted.
    Hopefully, the future is a lot brighter !

    Too far for anything other than armchair support, but may be able visit the area again in the summer ...
     
  6. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    Thanks GH, I will. Do you have a link, perchance?
     
  7. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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  8. James Hewett

    James Hewett New Member

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    You'll be very welcome.
    No - don't think so! The next battle will be harder: the Parish Council is discussing trying to designate the trackbed as a definitive footpath (it's currently permissive) - that would make life very hard indeed, as there's not a lot of room. It's a spoiler, of course, but in the current footpath/access climate, that's very hard to prove. (One of the many reasons why we concentrate on the western section is that the trackbed between Blythburgh and [almost] Walberswick is now a public footpath, making any railway restoration highly problematic. An example - a great deal of cash was spent in Gwynedd on alternative routes for footpaths on the WHR - and that restoration was really only possible anyway because of the peculiar legal situation of receivership).
    It's never easy to put back a railway that's been closed for almost 100 years and completely scrapped since 1941 - the proliferation of trees along the route is only one obstacle - green stuff is very sensitive around here.....
    We are relatively confident, though....although the essential environmental impact report/environmental improvement plan will be very pricey for a small organisation JH
     

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  9. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    Hi James, many thanks for that. Ive spent the last couple of hours acquainting myself with the application, and the dramatis personae, and to say its been interesting would be putting it mildly, particularly regarding the historic ownership of the railway's infrastructure, and that the original company's parliamentary rights may still exist!
    Im sure that is a discussion for another time and place, but do feel free to PM me if you feel so inclined.
    The Parish Council do seem to be on a rather, shall we say "different" trajectory than others, but the dynamic is fascinating, given the situation of land ownership, and the alleged legal powers involved.
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2024
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  10. wookey

    wookey New Member

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    Pleased to hear that the planning permission has been granted, I’ve been through the comments and there are a lot of compliments regarding the professionalism of the group and the standard of the job they have done in improving the site and maintaining it in good condition, well done to all concerned!
     
  11. James Hewett

    James Hewett New Member

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    Thanks very much indeed - I will pass that on to the team.
    Today we participated in "Whistle-up 200" in terrible weather - a howling gale and torrential rain. In our case it was "Ring-up", using the ship's bell on our battery-electric Greenbat loco - we stayed inside the restored 1879 SR Goods Shed, as there was no-one around to see us!
    The ringer in the photo is Mike Kendall, ex-Romney, Hythe - one of our loco drivers and our most regular volunteer.
    James
     

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