Lynton and Barnstaple Railway - heritage line, plans for expansion (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Robin Summerhill]

The fact that Meldon Viaduct has not been demolished for safety reasons suggests that it has a certain level of structural integrity. Any structure that hasn't fallen down can be repaired; whether that repair makes economic sense is another matter.

Another reason it hasn't been demolished may be (I think) that its  a Listed structure

I had a quick look on Google this morning to prove or disprove that,  but I couldn't find anything. Mind you I didn't spend that much time looking!

[TonyK]

Meldon Viaduct is a scheduled monument or Heritage Asset, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. I think that trumps listing in terms of protection.

[Red Squirrel]

...I think that trumps listing in terms of protection.

Last I heard it was listing towards Torquay...

[grahame]

From around 10 a.m. on 4th July 2020

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lyntonandbarnstaple/permalink/10163850302805128/

Update on Bratton Fleming Station Fund. We urgently need more £500 slots filled now that the station is yet again back on the market. There is a fillable-PDF form to allow you to do everything online. Fill in the form and email it to the address on the form, and do a BACS bank transfer of your £500 (or multiples thereof!!). The fillable form is in the Files section of this group.
Alternatively, visit pout JustGiving site to donate smaller amounts: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/brattonfleming

[infoman]

Can I ask a few things? the house is being sold for approx £350,000 so 700 persons at £500 each would suffice.

I think what we should get, is maybe a chance to stay at the location,maybe one night only to those who contributed to the fund

Or if thats not possible  why not rent out the property for a period of a maximum one week to non contributers.

I personally would not be keen on seeing my name on a plaque saying thank you to XXX for helping securing  these premises.

The cheque is already written,but if the house is not bought I would like my money returned.

Surely there must be various grants we could obtain to get all the money? Nathional Lottery and the like.

Unable to find out how long we have to collect the funds.

Can some one give me an exact location of where the house is.

[grahame]

Can I ask a few things? the house is being sold for approx £350,000 so 700 persons at £500 each would suffice.

I think what we should get, is maybe a chance to stay at the location, maybe one night only to those who contributed to the fund ...

Huge number of shareholders ... practical management issues for decades ...

I suspect the Exmoor Holdings (is that their name?) have skills and ideas that far surpass yours and mine ... and are the people to look at and get in touch with via the "£500 or more" link.    But, yes, there is potentially a hire home business in there.

I wonder if anyone has approached the Landmark Trust?   https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/about-us/  and asked the $64,000 about how they would feel to covenant to allow a railway to come through?

The Landmark Trust is a charity that rescues important buildings that would otherwise be lost.
We take on historic places in danger and carefully and sensitively restore them. By making them available for holidays, we make sure they can be enjoyed by all, both today and for future generations. We have in our care over 200 buildings in Britain, several in Italy and France and one in Belgium.

Though they range from the sober to the spectacular, all our buildings are rich in history and atmosphere. They include picturesque pavilions and medieval long-houses, artillery forts and Gothick follies, clan chiefs’ castles and cotton weavers’ cottages, the homes of great writers and the creations of great architects, from Browning to Boswell, from Pugin to Palladio.

[johnneyw]

I wonder if anyone has approached the Landmark Trust?   https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/about-us/  and asked the $64,000 about how they would feel to covenant to allow a railway to come through?

The Landmark Trust is a charity that rescues important buildings that would otherwise be lost.
We take on historic places in danger and carefully and sensitively restore them. By making them available for holidays, we make sure they can be enjoyed by all, both today and for future generations. We have in our care over 200 buildings in Britain, several in Italy and France and one in Belgium.

Though they range from the sober to the spectacular, all our buildings are rich in history and atmosphere. They include picturesque pavilions and medieval long-houses, artillery forts and Gothick follies, clan chiefs’ castles and cotton weavers’ cottages, the homes of great writers and the creations of great architects, from Browning to Boswell, from Pugin to Palladio.

I can vouch for the quality of Landmark Trust accomodation. We had a family holiday back in the 1960s staying at Fort Clonque on (sort of) Alderney. It's actually built on an off island rock attached by a tidal causeway.  It was like a dream come true for us that our parents had chosen a 'castle on an island' for our holiday.

[Red Squirrel]

Can I ask a few things?

[...]

Can some one give me an exact location of where the house is.

We might not be the best people to ask, but I'm sure the L&B or Exmoor Associates could quickly answer all your questions. The house is here: https://goo.gl/maps/V9XjxuUA2StETeHt5

I wonder if anyone has approached the Landmark Trust?

The Landmark Trust take on buildings that are in danger of falling down. I don't think anyone's suggesting that that's likely to happen here; it's all about securing the building and trackbed for the L&B.

[grahame]

I wonder if anyone has approached the Landmark Trust?

The Landmark Trust take on buildings that are in danger of falling down. I don't think anyone's suggesting that that's likely to happen here; it's all about securing the building and trackbed for the L&B.

Yes ... I quoted them as an organisation that takes on buildings for historic purposes but you're right that they tend to go for "last legs" stuff.  Others such as the National Trust also take on buildings as holiday lets with a sympathy to history - even quite close to the L&B.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/mortuary-cottage-devon?HolidayMapClick=012002
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/woolley-lodge-devon?HolidayMapClick=012003

Key here would be heritage v preservation and being sure - should someone take it on - they would ensure trains could pass in due course.

[johnneyw]

L&B Facepack page reports that the crowdfunding aspect of their appeal has reached £15,000 of their £20,000 (formerly £10,000) target.

[Red Squirrel]

I think rolling targets are a feature of JustGiving...

[johnneyw]

It seems that an agreement has been reached with the vendors to get funds together by the end of the month. There also seem (according to their Facebook page) to have been some substantial donations. It's getting interesting now.

Edit: Developments have even inspired me to dust off the wallet an make a very modest donation a few hours ago.

[grahame]

It seems that an agreement has been reached with the vendors to get funds together by the end of the month. There also seem (according to their Facebook page) to have been some substantial donations. It's getting interesting now.

Indeed. I note that the vendor now has a high-interest property.  Any prospective purchaser will quickly become aware of the very large number of people wanting the house and land they are selling to be available at a future date to a re-opened railway, and that will not be positive on the price offer, I would not have thought - rather like buying a property with planning blight.  Should a prospective purchaser not be aware very quickly in the interest (s)he will be very likely to change his/her decision to offer once (s)he finds out.

[TonyK]

Indeed. I note that the vendor now has a high-interest property.  Any prospective purchaser will quickly become aware of the very large number of people wanting the house and land they are selling to be available at a future date to a re-opened railway, and that will not be positive on the price offer, I would not have thought - rather like buying a property with planning blight.  Should a prospective purchaser not be aware very quickly in the interest (s)he will be very likely to change his/her decision to offer once (s)he finds out.

On the other hand, it wouldn't be the first time that someone has been able to hold a would-be purchaser to ransom. This happened to Bristol's MetroBust, when someone realised too late that they had forgotten to buy the land need for the second bridge at Bathurst Basin. You can name your price. The chap who built my own house found too late that what he thought was part of the drive actually belonged to a neighbour. He, or rather his negligent solicitor, ended up buying a strip of terra firma at an equivalent price per acre that would not have looked out of place in Mayfair.

With the station, I think there could be a good opportunity to make a return on the investment, subject to a decent rapport between owner and railway.

[johnneyw]

As a quick update to those following the Bratton Fleming station purchase appeal. The Just Giving part of the fund raiser has passed the 17 grand mark so there seems to still be a fair bit of momentum there.
I'm not completely sure what the overall total is, or indeed where the "winning line" to guarantee the acquisition has been placed so I think the bottle of champagne (or Somerset/Devon cider) is still on ice.