DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY SUPPORTS AYSGARTH STATION PLAN

Plans by West Coast Railways boss David Smith to restore Aysgarth station have received tentative support from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Mr Smith submitted a planning application in February this year to redevelop the site, which was purchased from the Wensleydale Railway plc in early 2018 (SR491).

At a planning committee meeting on July 9, the YDNPA recommended that planning permission be approved for the proposals, subject to certain conditions. These include limiting the touted operations to a maximum of 12 journeys per day for a maximum 36 days per calendar year – with steam-only operations restricted to one to two days per year – a maximum speed of 10mph, and a limited number of open days with visitors to be ferried by shuttle bus from Redmire, in addition to a number of environmental considerations.

It said: “The proposed development would result in the restoration and re-use of a number of buildings within the station complex and the laying of track along the position of the original route. In this regard, the proposed development would both contribute to conserving part of the cultural heritage of the National Park and provide new railway infrastructure that could lead in the future to the Wensleydale Railway being extended into the National Park.”

The authority’s National Park Management Plan Objective E5 supports measures to reinstate railways to and within the National Park, including the reinstatement of the Wensleydale Railway to Garsdale, starting with the stretch from Redmire to Aysgarth by 2024. Furthermore, one of the policies adopted by the Yorkshire Dales Local Plan (2015-2030) seeks to preclude new development that would prejudice the reinstatement of the Wensleydale Railway.

However, although the national park authority recommended approving Mr Smith’s planning application, no decision had been made at the time of going to press.