■ Appeal launched as L& B Bratton Fleming station back on the market
IN March, the former Lynton & Barnstaple Railway station at Bratton Fleming was on the market with a Devon estate agent inviting "offers in excess of £ 325k."
Exmoor Associates ( EA), the property- buying company set up to secure original L& B trackbed, saw an opportunity and began to raise funds. Sadly, hopes were soon dashed when told that the vendors had been made an offer by an unknown third- party - which they had accepted.
However, at the end of May, an eagle- eyed L& B member noticed that the ' Under Offer' banner on the estate agent Stags of Barnstaple website was missing
- and the station appeared to be once again for sale. Stags was contacted and confirmed that due to various problems with the buyer, the property was indeed again on the market - and so EA now suddenly has another chance to attempt the purchase.
EA director David Cameron said: "The window of opportunity is small, as others have apparently expressed interest in the property, so time is of the essence.
"While EA does hold cash reserves, allowing it to react swiftly if any trackbed does suddenly become available, these fall far short of the asking price for Bratton Fleming station.
"The idea opted for is to seek 700 donors, each willing to donate £ 500 to become a ' Friend of Bratton; which should raise enough capital to meet the asking price - plus the associated costs and legal fees. There would be no upper limit to the number of £ 500' slots' each donor could secure.
"Friends of Bratton, while set up initially through the efforts of EA directors and shareholders, is intended to be a stand- alone organisation, with its own management team, but working closely with EA and the L& B Trust.
"Would you like to become a Friend of Bratton, and have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a positive contribution to the eventual reinstatement of the former Lynton & Barnstaple Railway?
"This is open to all - and is not restricted solely to members of the L&BR Trust, or to shareholders in EA:'
For further details, contact David Cameron at david@ exmoor- associates. co. uko r on 07971 048490.