Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

bloc, but in view of the financial implications involved in supplying power for the illumination of the Viaduct along with any maintenance charges, it would be referred to the Budget Review Sub-Committee for further consideration. There was scathing criticism for BR from a local scout leader, when the train on which they had made a group booking went through Church & Oswaldtwistle Railway Station and failed to stop. The next train one hour later was packed out and so was the one between Preston and Lancaster. After spending a week on the Isle of Man, the group had to wait for two hours on Heysham Station and then were obliged to ride in the guard’s compartment, as this train was also full. They had not been allowed access to the first train as they were informed, “it was only dropping off passengers” and were only told they should have boarded after the train had left. On the return leg once again the train missed out Church & Oswaldtwistle Station, where some parents were waiting to collect some of the 55 boys on the holiday. The scout leader had been the brunt of complaints from other passengers, saying he should have reserved a carriage for his group, even though he had made the booking some four months in advance of the trip. BR in response stated, he should have been informed that the train on which they intended to travel to and from Preston could only be boarded in Accrington, and was assured that when group bookings of this size were made BR always endeavoured to put on extra carriages in order to avoid overcrowding! September A meeting of the Budget Review Sub-Committee the DES&T reported that at a meeting held earlier, the Development Services Committee had considered a report dealing with the progress made in connection with the East Lancs Railside Revival Initiative. The recommendations contained in this report had been accepted, but in view of the financial implications involved in the floodlighting of the Railway Viaduct in Accrington, with particular regard to the cost of electricity put at £2,000 per year and a maintenance cost still to be determined, it had been agreed to refer this to the Sub-Committee for further consideration. However, it was resolved to go ahead with the lighting of the Viaduct and to keep the cost within the budget of the Development Services Committee. November Having put pressure on BR in high places, after they withdrew the possibility of the Rail Ramblers’ Association being able to hire a DMU to convey them around the country, Press Officer Richard Gilbert stated, “It made money for BR without them having to assist us to any great extent. All we needed was a driver and a guard, whilst we arranged all the publicity and the ticket sales. The final trips this year will be to York and on December the 22 nd , to Lancaster”. December The Development Services Committee met and when reporting on the Accrington to Baxenden disused BR Railway Line, the Director stated that Lancashire County Council’s Countryside Management Unit had approached Hyndburn Borough Council as this land was in the Council’s ownership in order to include it in their Urban Forestry Programme for 1993/94. It was resolved to support the County in this quest to plant trees and landscape this area, and the Director was authorised to enter into an agreement with the County Council on a lease/licence basis to enable tree planting to be carried out during 1990/91. It was further resolved to include this site in the Accrington/Baxenden Disused Railway Reclamation Scheme, which upon completion was due to be leased to, and maintained by Hyndburn Borough Council.

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