Back to Blackmoor

How you can help

Our railway development activities are accelerating rapidly and producing results. It is so good to know that we have now completed our major objective of securing Planning Permission to extend the line from Killington Lane right through to Wistlandpound..

I congratulate and thank all of you who have supported our efforts with the most generous donations in recent years. Your generosity has enabled the Trust to make significant land purchases of trackbed at Rowley Cross; from there to Parracombe Bank; at Blackmoor Gate; and, the land and trackbed at Woody Bay that was previously leased.

We now own Rowley Moor Farm with land and buildings that are a vital site for the future sheds and engineering works for the rebuilt railway. This site complements the land we already own at Blackmoor Gate which will provide the space for future car parking there.

Along with land purchases we have worked to ensure that the Railway Project is recognised by both North Devon Council and Exmoor National Park Authority. Both these bodies include the reinstatement of the Railway as policy in their local development plans.

The Planning Applications are now approved. However, there is still much work to be done before we can run trains to Blackmoor Gate and Wistlandpound. That involves more costs - of course! But the results will be truly historic and possibly heroic. This is probably the first - and maybe only - realistic opportunity for the historic rebuilding of our railway.

You may not be aware of all the sources of funds that support the project to reconstruct the railway:

We launched the All Aboard appeal to support the planning activities and the Trackbed Appeal to fund trackbed purchases. In addition the CIC shares sales and the 100 Club are dedicated to this part of the project.

The All Aboard Fund

Donations received into this fund are initially paying for the ‘permissions’ needed to build the railway.  Firstly, these are the Planning Permissions which have now been granted by Exmoor National Park Authority and North Devon Council. The next step will be a Transport and Works Order from Parliament.

Work on the Planning Application started in 2012 with initial work by ARUP leading to various public consultations. This work then continued with project management by a locally based planning consultant. We were dealing with the technicalities ‘up-front’ so that when the applications were submitted most of the questions raised had already been dealt with. The topics covered included Landscape, Ecology (including Bats, Reptiles, Dormice, Badgers and Otters), Hydrology, Sound and Vibration, Traffic, Trees, Topographic Surveys and legal advice. There was also considerable outline design work on bridges, tunnels and embankments, including Parracombe Bank.

The Trackbed Appeal

Donations received into this fund are reserved to pay for the purchase of Track-bed and associated land needed to rebuild the railway.

How can you help?

Contributions can be large or small - all are equally essential and appreciated. Also, if you are a taxpayer, your contribution to these funds can be boosted by 25% through Gift Aid.

Many of you have already signed up as regular contributors to All Aboard and have also contributed to the Trackbed Appeals. The regular standing order payments are particularly vital as we can rely on these amounts each month and plan the expenditure.

Click HERE to apply for CIC SHARE PURCHASE or HEREfor entry to the 100 CLUB, or to read more about contributing CLICK HERE.

And finally:

Thank you again for all your generous support so far. No other heritage railway has faced the challenges that the L&B has in front of it - we are getting there and as can be seen the railway is coming back to life. You are a vital part of all this and with your help we can get the whole job done.

Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust