Hi all
I saw a thread some time ago about the Potential re opening of the Leek to Stoke line that closed some time ago
Anyone have any news on this?
I think that the proposal is now dead in the water following Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's refusal of planning permission for a new station at Leek in April 2016.
http://www.mcrailways.co.uk/news/5025/disappointing-planning-refusal.html
Local councils' shorts-sightedness never fails to amaze me.
I think that the proposal is now dead in the water following Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's refusal of planning permission for a new station at Leek in April 2016.
http://www.mcrailways.co.uk/news/5025/disappointing-planning-refusal.html
That's not my understanding. I spoke to a number of staff when I was last visiting the railway and I was told that the planning permission was to build housing on the triangle of land from Leekbrook Junction towards Leek, which the railway own, the money from which was to be use for the Leek extension, but it was that planning permission that was turned down and not the branch line to Leek, or at least that's what I was told?
Thanks for correcting my misinterpretation of the M&CR news item. However, without some means of funding it, the proposed extension to Leek remains "dead in the water". Therefore, refusal of planning permission for the housing development has effectively scuppered the scheme.
Its such a shame, when the Moorlands and City materialised they had such great plans, with running to Caldon Lowe and down to Oakamoor, now both sections have been lifted. So much potential but no money, same old story I guess.
Though if I understand rightly, it's been part of the "revivers' " strategy to sell the rails off the Kingsley & Froghall -- Oakamoor, and Ipstones -- Caldon Lowe, sections, to raise cash. Should things go favourably, they look at possible reinstating of those sections later on.
Yes that was my understanding and to be fair the trackbed was in very poor condition in both directions, I`ve walked the Caldon Lowe line from Ipstones and it really is bad in places. The long term plan is to reinstate the trackbed, but I suspect without a significant cash injection, it could be very many years away. The potential is there, but the money isnt.