Abridged Minutes of SELRAP Executive Meeting, Monday 25th September 2017 at 6:30pm
At The Old Stone Trough, Colne Road, Kelbrook, BB18 6XY
- Membership Report:
Two new members have joined since the last meeting and membership now stands at 477 and 52 affiliated groups.
5.Financial Report:
The current Financial Accounts were submitted and approved.
Financial support for the future Study stands at:
From SELRAP Members£5,000
Promises from third parties£36,000
Total£41,000
Other potential contributions are to be followed up.
This is required to cover the cost of the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC). If this is not totally used up, any excess balance would be returned by percentage to the donors.
The sum of £2,000 is set aside as a reserve lump sum for any discrete purchase the Exec. Committee may require.
6.Media Report:
Andrew Stephenson MP had again highlighted his support for the project in the ‘Week in Westminster’ paper.
‘The Nelson Leader’ had included a photograph of an exceedingly crowded Earby station platform when holidaymakers were travelling during WW1. (useful for Arriva’s estimate of passenger uptake? – JB)
An article had appeared in ‘Rail Future’ on the internet and it was noted that funding had been allocated for the provision of a new station at Skelmersdale.
7. Members’ Open Meeting: Feedback from Colne meeting:
It was reported that the Embsay Steam Railway (aka the Yorkshire Dales Railway) was keen to work with SELRAP. It was felt that this was likely to be connected with the potential of the sharing of facilities at Skipton station if the YDR was successful in securing access for their passenger services into Skipton.
8.Publicity:
Leaflets
Adequate supplies are available
At a Glance
‘At a Glance’ leaflets are needed at Addingham Library and Embsay railway station - to be supplied.
‘At a Glance’ leaflets will be distributed at the IMechE Railway Division meeting on 10th October 2017.
There appeared to be adequate supplies of ‘At a Glance’available at present and the next issue is scheduled for Spring 2018. In the event of any important good news being reported, a special updated newssheet will be provided.
Website
A notice of the IMechE ‘Case Study’ sessionwill be produced for inclusion on the website.
Details of the any relevant media publicity are to be passed on for inclusion on the website.
Facebook and Twitter
Nothing to report
9. Project Progress Report:
Transport for the North (TfN) noted the support that SELRAP has from major companies.
Arriva and TfNwere both asked to produce up to date potential passenger numbers.
Network Railagreed to cost the scope of gauging the whole route, including Thackley tunnels.
Peel Ports said that if the transit time between East and West coast ports could be brought down to less than 4hrs, the shipping lines would probably redirect their container ships to Liverpool instead of sailing around Britain to East Coast ports.
Arriva and Drax felt that the passenger service would be very attractive.
All agreed that the effect on rail freight transport across the country would be ‘transformational’.
It was particularly emphasised by Drax, Peel Ports, Amy, GB Railfreight and SELRAP that the project should be fast tracked for completion no later than 2022 or earlier, if possible.
There is a great need to get unequivocal support from LCC who are suspected of holding back through lack of funds. Other CCs had agreed to follow the lead of TfN, while hoping that TfN would fund the entire project. It was emphasised that at this stage, SELRAP wanted their support for the project, not their money.
On the topic of possible duplication, the projected study that SELRAP is considering is a detailed study of the line between Skipton and Colne, while TfN would consider the whole Central Pennine Corridor.
The encroachment at Elslack has been mentioned, but was not seen as a significant factor in preventing the re-instatement of the line.
10. Political Lobbying:
A meeting has been arranged withAndrew Stephenson MP and J. Grogan MP on 27th September in the Crown Hotel in Colne with SELRAP coveringhospitality expenses.
A further meeting is planned to be arranged in Westminster in October 2017, when all eight relevant MPs will be invited to attend.
SELRAP will be meeting Bradford City Council on 12th October 2017.
It was felt that we should keep in touch with Councillor Noorad Ali, of Pendle and Hyndburn Council who had attended the recent SELRAP public meeting in Colne and who is most supportive of the scheme. It is reported that he is promoting the idea that future through passenger trains should run from Leeds to Accrington rather than terminating at Burnley as presently proposed!
11. Other Events:
SELRAP willmake a presentation to the Railway Division of Institution of Mechanical Engineers in Manchester on Tuesday, 10th October 2017.
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