ELR Buckley Wells works plan threatened

A SURPRISE objection by Rossendale Borough Council (RBC) to the East Lancashire Railway’s (ELR) expansion of its Buckley Wells site could threaten the project.

The objection to the ELR’S planning application, lodged with Bury Council, says the development must be altered to fit in with RBC’S hopes to develop a tram/train interchange at Buckley Wells and ambition of a commuter rail service.

The ‘Masterplan Development’ includes restoration of the ELR’S historic 1857 locomotive shed, plus the construction of a new running shed, workshops, training facilities and a standalone carriage shed.

The ELR’S strategic development is by a partnership of the ELR Trust, including the three local authorities the ELR operates in (Bury Council, RBC and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council), plus the East Lancashire Light Railway Company. All three councils are also the ELR’S landlords.

RBC claims that the ELR did not discuss the application with it – but the ELR’S official response reports that three RBC representatives sit on the ELR Trust board, and that the growth strategy was ‘signed off’ at a meeting in 2019 that included the trustees representing RBC.

Network Rail, Metrolink (which runs the tram system) and Transport for Greater Manchester (which controls transport in the region), have not objected to the planning application.