St Austell old footbridge

[whole diary]

[old original]

Radio Cornwall this morning are reporting that the old footbridge at St Austell has been delisted and will be removed to a heritage railway in Wales for restoration.

[grahame]

Radio Cornwall this morning are reporting that the old footbridge at St Austell has been delisted and will be removed to a heritage railway in Wales for restoration.

Very interesting that this can be done here, when there's major issues between Didcot and Swindon where it seems there's an immovable bridge - from Historic England

Removing a Building from the List

If a building is considered by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to be of special architectural or historic interest it will be included on a list of such buildings. The List is maintained by Historic England. This guidance provides an overview of the application process for removing a building from the List, also known as de-listing. It should be noted that an application for de-listing is a separate process from the review of listing decisions, which is a challenge to the validity of a recent listing decision. More details can be found on the DCMS website.

Why might a building be removed from the List?

The statutory criteria for a building being included on the List are that it holds special architectural or historic interest. The Secretary of State will remove a building from the List only if it no longer meets these criteria.

The general principles that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport applies when deciding whether a building is of special architectural or historic interest are set out in the Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings:

Architectural Interest – to be of special architectural interest a building must be of importance in its architectural design, decoration or craftsmanship; special interest may also apply to nationally important examples of particular building types and techniques (e.g. buildings displaying technological innovation or virtuosity) and significant plan forms;

Historic Interest – to be of special historic interest a building must illustrate important aspects of the nation’s social, economic, cultural or military history and/or have close historical associations with nationally important people. There should normally be some quality of interest in the physical fabric of the building itself to justify the statutory protection afforded by listing.

The Secretary of State can only take into account a building’s architectural and historic interest when considering an application for de-listing.

 An application for de-listing may be made because new evidence is available about the lack of special architectural or historic interest of the building, or a material change of circumstances, for example fire damage.

[Andy]

Very sad to see it go, though relieved that at least it has a new home, albeit one quite far from Cornwall.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Purely for completeness, here is a picture of that footbridge, from Cornwall Live:

[johnneyw]

Radio Cornwall this morning are reporting that the old footbridge at St Austell has been delisted and will be removed to a heritage railway in Wales for restoration.

Any idea which railway it's off to?

[old original]

Historic England apparently withdrew their opposition to delisting on two points. Half the station has already been redeveloped and the bridge itself is a standard design and not unique.
Personally I would rather have the money paid in fares go towards improving a modern railway than spent on decrepit follies. If people want a transport museum go to a heritage railway.

Taking cover...

[old original]

....and nothing to do with either bridge on the station..

http://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/woman-serious-injures-railway-bridge-1034287

[old original]

Radio Cornwall this morning are reporting that the old footbridge at St Austell has been delisted and will be removed to a heritage railway in Wales for restoration.

Any idea which railway it's off to?

Bala Lake

[Kernow Otter]

Lostwithiel Town Council and others have asked that this decision be revisited, with a view to refurbishing the bridge and relocating it to Lostwithiel where the busiest main line level crossing west of Exeter makes the reinstatement of a bridge essential with the forthcoming timetable changes in Cornwall.

[Andy]

I dare say users of Pilning station could have found a use for it, too.
 

[rower40]

Personally I would rather have the money paid in fares go towards improving a modern railway than spent on decrepit follies. If people want a transport museum go to a heritage railway.
Taking cover...

Some of us decrepit follies are busy improving a modern railway...

[Andy]

I've heard a rumour that the footbridge may not be leaving Cornwall for Wales after all. Does anyone have any idea what (if any) plans there are for it now?

Thank you.
 

[Phantom]

I've heard a rumour that the footbridge may not be leaving Cornwall for Wales after all. Does anyone have any idea what (if any) plans there are for it now?

Thank you.
 

https://cornishstuff.com/2018/07/26/wales-doesnt-want-it-now-so-st-austell-bridge-could-stay-in-cornwall/

Wales doesn’t want it now, so St Austell Bridge could stay in Cornwall

July 26, 2018 #Latest News, Heritage, Steve Double


The iconic Victorian footbridge at St Austell Railway station could find a Cornish home after all as the heritage railway due to take it to Wales said it no longer wants it.

It had been feared that the bridge could be removed from Cornwall altogether and put at the Bala Lake Railway, despite protests from the St Austell community.

Local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Steve Double said he has received an update,

“I was pleased to recently hear from management at Network Rail that the Bala Lake Railway in Wales had decided to withdraw their interest in the St Austell rail footbridge.”

“Even more so that the Helston Railway in West Cornwall has now shown a strong interest in acquiring the structure.”

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“My preferred option has always been that this iconic part of our town should stay where it is and be restored, but keeping it in Cornwall is certainly a step in the right direction.”

“I remain in correspondence with Network Rail regarding the future of the bridge and will continue to do what I can to keep it as close as possible to its current position as this is the clearly expressed will of many local people”


A similar fate is due for the bridge at St Erth Station. Network Rail are determined to replace it with a more accessible and modern bridge  and senior NR^» (Network Rail - home page) staff told us during Chris Grayling’s visit that ‘anyone can have it if they want it’.

The Transport Secretary was surprised to learn that the St Erth bridge would be replaced after he was photographed on it with local MP Derek Thomas. Helston Heritage Railway is again the obvious choice but Cllr Colin Martin said that Lostwithiel would also be interested in taking it.

[Andy]

Thanks, Phantom, for that information. If indeed both St Austell and St Erth footbridges have to go, it'd be nice if Lostwithiel and the Helston Railway could have one each. 

[Andy]

Cornwall Railway Society reported yesterday that the old St Austell footbridge is to be dismantled over the next few weeks...but its future has been secured as it will have a new life at the Helston Railway.