Issue - meetings

Report to Cabinet the conclusions of the Halcrow report into the Radstock to Frome Railway

Councillor Eleanor Jackson in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 3 and on the Council's website] said that the Radstock line would only require eight miles of track to be re-engineered and re-laid, and was 14th on the ATOL list of suburban lines which should be re-opened.  She said that the estimated cost of £41.3 million would make it much cheaper than any comparable road option, while it would become much easier to ship out goods from the area, reduce congestion and attract tourists.  She asked the Cabinet to take the necessary steps to bring back the trains to Radstock.

George Bailey (Radstock Action Group) in a statement [a copy of which is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 4 and on the Council's website] said that the feasibility report had been generally negative without looking at opportunities and had ignored several matters.  He was pleased to see that officers had recommended the report should be re-worked and gave a number of issues which he felt should be considered more fully in the new report.

The Chair thanked George Bailey and observed that he felt his statement had been the best statement to Cabinet that he had heard.

Councillor Roger Symonds thanked George Bailey and Councillor Eleanor Jackson for their contributions.  He felt that the recommendations did reflect the intention to request further work by Halcrow, to address the issues raised by the speakers.  He suspected that this would not make very much difference to the outcome as expressed in paragraph 5.8 of the report, which closed the door for the present but not for ever.  The long-term aim was to open up Radstock to the whole rail network.  He agreed that almost every station had experienced increased usage which was encouraging for the future.  He encouraged local people in Radstock to set up an active volunteer group which would prove their commitment to make a future branch line work.  He moved proposals which were slightly amended from the officer recommendations, the effect of which would include in the new report the consideration of the possible expansion of the Metro to include Westbury.

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the proposal.  He agreed that Halcrow must be told clearly what issues need to be considered in the new report.  He was particularly grateful for the ideas from George Bailey and others from Radstock.  He felt that there would be good opportunities in the future – if not immediately.

Councillor Simon Allen said that re-opening the line had been a long held ambition and the local community had committed a great deal of work to it.  He recognised the need to be realistic about timescales, but said that by protecting the route of the line the Cabinet was ensuring the future possibility of re-opening the line.

Councillor Cherry Beath endorsed what others had said.  She referred particularly to the point made by George Bailey about the large contingency and fees built into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 144