Launceston Steam Railway Future in Jeopardy

[penrose]

Statement currently being circulated by the LSR - do support us if you can (and many thanks to those who have already done so):

For many years the LSR has set its sights on the final extension of the railway to the small village of Egloskerry, two miles further on from the present terminus at Newmills. To this end, more than a decade ago we purchased the final section of trackbed required at the Egloskerry end.

Some three years ago, the railway was approached by Cornwall Council with a proposal to enable the railway’s extension to Egloskerry in conjunction with the creation of an off-road multi-use trail between Launceston and Egloskerry. Cornwall Council succeeded in their bid for funding from the South West Regional Development Agency for this project, together with projects at Bude and Caradon Hill. The railway agreed to fund the cost of track laying and materials, whilst the project would fund the other elements.

Last year however, Cornwall Council decided it could no longer fund the railway’s extension, but would nonetheless ensure that the trail was constructed in such a way as to ensure that the route of a future railway extension was not compromised in any way.

Following a review earlier this year by the funders (now taken over by DEFRA) concerned over lack of progress overall, the Bude project and the Launceston to Polson Bridge section were cancelled. Under considerable pressure and the threat of withdrawal of funding, Cornwall Council decided to push ahead with a much reduced scheme in an attempt to meet the closely monitored deadline for completion and have applied for planning permission for a multi-use trail which involves almost half of the trail being on-road, and the section between Newmills and our trackbed at Egloskerry (where the trail once again takes to the road) being constructed down the centre of the trackbed! If approved, this would forever prevent any possibility of the railway extending its business to Egloskerry our ultimate destination and would also cut us off from the trackbed we already own at Egloskerry.

Already a number of local people have registered objections - not least because we are the town’s major tourist attraction - but any person can comment on planning applications, and we are hoping that as many as possible will support us and the landowners in objecting to the current plan.

The planning application can be viewed at http://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/onli...=M8WK1DFG0H900 (or by entering the application number PA12/07870 in the Cornwall Council online planning website) and comments can be made by selecting the comments tab. Alternatively you can sign a petition of objection to the application at www.ipetitions.com/petition/lsr/

Further information may also be found on the ‘News’ and ‘TRAC Project’ pages of the LSR website (www.launcestonsr.co.uk).

We would be most grateful for whatever help you are able to give. All we are asking for is for Cornwall Council to change their plans so that rail and trail can share the route.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

[John H-T]

I feel that it is important to support the Launceston Steam Railway by supporting the petition. The railway is an important base and tourist attraction.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Silver Fox Phil]

I fully support the LSR and have duely signed the petition. It is very short sighted of this council to stifle such a valuable asset as a local heritage railway. Let's hope they listen to the objections and do not go ahead with such a blinkered view. Invest in your local attractions don't destroy them!!!
Regards
Phil

[27vet]

I signed your petition mate.

[DSY011]

I have also signed the petition and posted a comment on the site.

[dave6023]

I too have signed and posted a comment. Just hope the petition is successful.

[Christopher Dent]

I have already signed the petiton as have stopped a few times at Launceston on journies west of Launceston and travelled the line in 2009. What I can't understand is how Cornwall CC could pinch land whose future hoped for use is already owned by the railway. The railway to Tresmeer from Launceston opened westward in July 1892 has 120
years precedence. Let's hope the LSR's case prevails.

[penrose]

Many thanks to those members of this forum who previously supported us and objected to Cornwall Council's plans. An update on the situation is as follows:

Cornwall Council withdrew their previous trail Planning Application PA12/07870 for 'technical' reasons. They have now submitted an almost identical application, PA12/10153 (some changes have been made to the surface materials to be used in places, but the plan still obstructs the extension of the railway). The new application can be viewed, and comments made, at http://tinyurl.com/d73gpxd

By submitting a new application, a situation has been created where previous objections to PA12/07870 are no longer valid, and fresh objections will need to be made to the new application, and we would urge all those who have already objected to submit a fresh objection on the Council's website, or re-submit the previous one. Additionally our online petition of objection to the plans, which has received over 1100 signatures, can still be signed via our website and will be submitted as an objection to the new planning application later this month.

As the element to which the vast majority of objections related has not been addressed (the railway's offers of meetings with Cornwall Council have gone unanswered) natural justice would suggest that these original objections should be carried forward. If you feel that this should be the case, we would suggest that you contact Cornwall Council Planning Department, 3-5 Barn Lane, Bodmin, PL31 1LZ Tel: 0300 1234 151 [email protected] direct, or your Member of Parliament.

As and when we have any further news, it will appear on our website.


Charlie O'Mahoney
LSR

[Silver Fox Phil]

I have sent my objections again to the council and hope they listen to reason!
All the best
Phil

[27vet]

No worries, I will sign another petition if necessary.