Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

b) That the Director of Development Services would be authorised to implement these schemes as set out in the appendix, subject to the total cost not exceeding the enhanced capital programme total of £36,666. ( It should be noted that this item was considered in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, and the ‘special’ circumstances which had enabled Hyndburn Council to take up the ERDF Grant in order to implement this programme of schemes. ) 1994 February At a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee, £3,000 was allocated to the East Lancashire Railway Consultant’s Report, as Hyndburn’s capital contribution. March The Full Council met when during the debate on the budget strategy for 1994/95, it was resolved that an extra £15,000 would be found to increase the fund for the East Lancashire Lineside Revival Programme, taking it to £35,000. At a meeting of the Development Services Committee the ‘acting’ Director of Development Services, presented a report on the current implementation and funding of the East Lancashire Line Railside Revival Programme and it was resolved - i. That the ‘acting’ Director should implement the programme of works included in this scheme, subject to the cost not exceeding £34,666. ii. The Officers were requested to draw the attention of Lancashire County Council and British Railways to further improvements with particular reference to the facilities at Accrington’s Railway Station. A computer expert from Helmshore, Tom Hanson, had purchased the last Pullman train built for BR for £200,000, and was now administering the ‘Statesman Pullman Executive Train Tours’ from an office above the Yorkshire Bank on St James Street, in Accrington. The train was made up of 8 parlour cars, 2 kitchen cars and a staff car. One of these ‘specials’ had operated around the Cumbrian Coast Line to Carlisle, and after a two hour stay, had returned via the scenic Settle & Carlisle route. Tickets were priced at £69:00, which included a full English breakfast and silver service dinner, served by one of the 28 stewards on board. There was also the option of travelling in the ex-Great Western Railway Company’s saloon carriage at a fare of £109:00. Places on the ‘West Highland Special’ in September had already been sold out. Other trips would be made to top race meetings and to the Edinburgh Tattoo. April Speaking at a meeting of the East Lancashire Line - Railside Revival Project, Councillor Jean Battle stated that Accrington’s Railway Station required, “A major facelift and not just minor cosmetic surgery”. Councillor Ken Curtiss was in broad agreement, suggesting that the footbridge required a thorough steam clean to remove bird droppings, painting and then netting to avoid a reoccurrence of the problem. Councillor Battle suggested something should also be done to stop it from flooding, which turned it into a skating rink in cold weather. Philip Barwood, Head of Planning, told the meeting that pressure had been put on BR to net the footbridge, but as yet nothing had been done. Hyndburn Council were contributing £34,000 to this scheme, but Barwood told them that it had been necessary to revise some plans due to a shortfall in funding from BR. October The DofTS presented to a meeting of the Technical Services Committee a copy of the West Coast Mainline Study, which was currently underway, and this was duly noted. The Development Services Committee met, and the Director of Development Services (DofDS), submitted a report reviewing the progress of the East Lancashire Line - Railside Revival Programme for 1994/95. Members were asked to approve the recommendations contained within this document and it was resolved - (1) That the year’s capital sum of £46,333 would be directed towards the continuation of the West Accrington Corridor during 1994/95 as follows - • Section 3. From the eastern edge of Charter Street to Crossland Street, the estimated cost of the cycle path/footpath at £15,500. • Section 4. From Crossland Street to the start of Platform 1 of Accrington Railway Station, the combined paths and fencing estimated at £29,577. Not to include Hyndburn Borough Council in any maintenance liability for the Willows Lane Railway Bridge. • The estimated total cost equalling £45,077 out of a capital allocation of £46,333. (2) That another report, setting out the detailed costings should be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee for approval and that this should include details of the cost of ‘netting’ the bridges.

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