Aln Valley rail plan pulled but it will return
Plans to build a multi-million pound visitor centre and holiday accommodation to support the resurrection of the railway line from Alnwick to Alnmouth have been withdrawn temporarily.
The Aln Valley Railway Trust has pulled the plug on the present application, submitted to Alnwick District Council in May, because the group is not ready to take it forward at this point in time.
William Stafford, trust secretary, told the Gazette this week that the grand project was still very much on track, and revised plans would be re-submitted in the near future. He said: "There are no sinister reasons why we withdrew the plans, it's just at this stage we're not quite ready to proceed with them, and we will re-present them nearer the time". Mr Stafford explained that the Trust was not yet fully prepared financially, and that discussions needed to take place with a national train company. The Trust had planned to convert one of the cottages into disabled toilets but it is believed that Virgin are also intending to include such facilities on the north bound side, so the two parties need to come to some sort of agreement. He said the Trust was urged by the district council to submit a planning application in the first instance so they have permission to develop the properties they are to acquire.
Mr Stafford added: "There have been a couple of vociferous objectors but we have been assured by all concerned that there wouldn't really be a problem with that." The Trust has raised £150,000 through donations from individuals and businesses, but are also looking to secure Lottery and European Union cash to reintroduce steam trains on the line for the first time in over 30 years.
News Update from the Chairman
"Our Planning Application for the
make-over of Station Cottages was submitted on about May, 16th, and at the same
time Martin Robinson put out a Press Release. This generated immediate
publicity. First a spread in The Journal for May, 16th, complete with Ken
Middlemist’s smiling face: the following week our local NIMBY emerged from the
woodwork (Journal, May, 21st) to complain about the extra traffic that might be
caused – but answered in the same column by Martin. Robert Brooks, The Journal’s
Alnwick reporter, does a slick job for us.
Next, Janet Coltman rings me up from the Northumberland Gazette, wanting to take
my photo at the Cottages: this appeared, with an article, at the top of the
front page on May, 22nd - I’m afraid I looked rather smug.
Finally, on 22nd, I came in from mending the motor-mower to find a message on my
Answerphone – please ring Radio Newcastle; when I did so, it was too late. They
had given up on me and found Martin instead. This was lucky for me, as they
wanted Martin in their studio at 7.15 a.m. next day – but lucky for us too as he
not only got there on time but did an excellent spiel just after the 7.30 news.
After all this news excitement, I myself
attended on 23rd at Virgin Trains’ ceremony of Re-naming Alnmouth Station. It’s
now (wait for it) Alnmouth for Alnwick! It’s also upgraded to be
called a Railhead; I think they’d have liked to call it Alnwick Parkway if only
the parking wasn’t so inadequate at present. The unveiling of a commemorative
plaque was performed jointly by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland and Alan
Beith M.P., while a Scots piper played.
The event also celebrated the vastly improved Virgin train service at Alnmouth.
During it, and also at the Buffet afterwards, I had the chance to talk to
several of the Personalities present, including Chris Green, the C.E.O. of
Virgin Trains and Colin Harris, their Regional Manager N. E.. I was able to
interest the latter in our ideas for providing a wheel-chair access ramp from
behind the cottages to the Down (Northbound) Mainline platform, and also a
disabled Toilet, two items which Virgin are under some pressure to provide.
It was important to note that both in the formal speeches, and in conversations
afterwards, there seemed to be universal acceptance of the Aln Valley Railway as
part of the scene. Whilst he was waiting for his return train, Mr Green was
taken to see Alnwick Station, where Gordon Castle did the honours, not only
showing him the Station (and a few railway Books of course) but also our Display
Boards, and presenting him with our Brochure and the latest Link. Many thanks
Gordon.
On the guest list (though I did not meet him) was Peter Myers representing
Arriva. Members will remember that in the early days of the A.V.R., Arriva were
uncooperative, and refused to consider allowing us to use the back of the Down
platform for our trains. I understand that with the arrival of Mr Myers, the
situation is quite changed, and that the platform may now be available to us;
this obviously will be a great help, both relieving us of the cost of building a
separate platform, and making transfer between trains much easier. Don’t open
the Champagne yet, though, I can see a lot of complicated negotiations ahead.
Our next milestone will, I hope, be the granting of our Planning Permission and
completion of our purchase of the cottages. At which time we’ll do another
update."
© 1995 - 2003 Northumbria Rail Group & Aln Valley Railway Society - Last update: 04 January 2004