Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

risen by 30p. In reply he was told that the new fare structure reflected more accurately BR’s market position, but they would be reviewing the situation in the near future. On Friday, the 21 st , Councillor George Slynn, Chairman of LCC’s Highways & Transportation Committee, was chosen to unveil the naming of the new ‘Pacer’ trains in a ceremony at Preston Station. Following this the official party were taken out on a run to Blackburn. Rail Ramblers returned at the end of the month, with an excursion via Settle to Carlisle, the route currently under serious threat of closure. April On Saturday, the 9 th , the Rail Rambler was to Barmouth and Harlech. Finally, work began on raising the platform at Rishton Station by the two feet required to bring it up to carriage level, ten years after a campaign for this work to be done had been initiated. A grant of £12,000 from LCC had enabled the work to begin. Rishton Councillor Donald McNeil, a leading voice in the campaign, had pointed out that Rishton was a growing area and was sure that BR would reap benefits from this improvement, which would take over a week to complete. On the 12 th he first sighting of a new Class 142 ‘Pacer’ was when #038 (55629-55579) worked through from Preston, followed by 142:047 (55588-55638) going west. The following Saturday 142:045 (55586-55636) was noted. On May Day Monday the 5 th , Bridlington was visited by another Rambler excursion, with the train made up of 54484-51914-53499-53470. June The Development Services Committee met and Members were reminded that in July, 1984, authorisation was given for the compulsory purchase of derelict British Railways land, the former track bed of the North Lancs Avoiding Line ( the Harwood Loop ), between Great Harwood and Whitebirk. The results of the Compulsory Purchase Order inquiry were still awaited. However, in order to have the project included in the Derelict Land Programme, designs for the project were still ongoing. The DES&T reported that in order to provide pedestrian access beneath Harwood Road Bridge which was still under the ownership of BR, the Council was required to construct a fence on either side of this structure. However, BR would allow passage under this bridge if - a. Hyndburn Borough Council was prepared to indemnify the BR Board against any claim arising from such access. b. They would fund any repairs necessary in order to make this structure safe for access. c. That liability for this bridge as a support to the highway was transferred to Lancashire County Council as the Highways Authority. The County Council had confirmed that their Surveyor’s Department was of the opinion that this bridge was no longer serving a useful purpose, and had recommended that it should be filled in. If this was to be the case it was possible that an underpass could be incorporated. LCC were unable however to consider the adoption of the structure until the status of the pathway beneath it had been satisfactorily resolved, and for this the pathway had to be designated as a public right of way. The first phase of this reclamation had provided a footpath which it was thought could be developed as a ‘cycleway’ linking Great Harwood and Rishton and then extended to the Hyndburn - Blackburn boundary at Whitebirk, on completion of all the reclamation work. It was suggested that a pathway of the same standard as in Phase 1 could be constructed through the Norden Valley section. This would provide a footpath and cycleway but would not be for equestrian purposes. It was resolved - A. That the principle of establishing a public cycleway from Railway Terrace in Great Harwood, along the track-bed of the former railway line to a point 90 metres west of Harwood Road Bridge, with a public footpath along the remaining section of the route, would be approved. B. That investigation of footpaths connecting the railway further to the west of Harwood Road Bridge, in order to ascertain that a change of status was possible to provide cycle access to the far end of the reclamation scheme, would also be approved. C. To pursue Lancashire County Council to adopt Harwood Road Bridge as the Highway Authority. July It was announced that the ‘Roses Rail Link’ between East Lancs and Hebden Bridge would reopen in September following closure due to structural problems found in February. This was when it was discovered that the hillside through which Holme Tunnel was bored had moved about 6 inches. It had cost £½ million to rectify this fault by lining the tunnel with a steel framework. In addition to this it was

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