Notes from the Trust

At last the railway is back to Junction Road, although there is insufficient room to build a platform and run-round loop. That will have to wait until we are able to cross to the west side of Junction Road.

The good news is that our benefactors were so impressed with the speed and quality of construction they have asked us to push on with satisfying the conditions laid down by Rother District Council when it incorporated the route into the District Plan. These conditions are (Local Plan Issued 2006 - Policy EM8):
“An extension to the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway from Bodiam to Robertsbridge, along the route identified on the Proposals Map, will be supported, subject to a proposal meeting the following criteria:

1. it must not compromise the integrity of the floodplain and the flood protection measures at Robertsbridge;
2. it has an acceptable impact on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; it
3. incorporates appropriate arrangements for crossing the A21,
   B2244 at Udiam, Northbridge Street and the River Rother.”

This will mean a lot of behind the scenes investigation and design so there won’t be much in the way of news for the next few months.

Relations with KESR remain good as we work out the details to allow next year’s gala event to run trains over RVR rails to the site of Junction Road Halt.

Gardner Crawley
crawleyg@rvr.org.uk

Stop Press - An anonymous benefactor has made a substantial donation to the Trust to buy the steam loco Charwelton to prevent it being removed from KESR. It will be owned by RVR Ltd and operated by KESR under a rolling stock agreement. More details to follow.