Rail campaign in its ‘strongest place ever’
THE campaign is in its “strongest position ever” to bring about a “desperately needed” rail link, the council leader has insisted.
Coun Alyson Barnes was responding to a question from Conservative Coun Jenny Rigby about negotiations with the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) following the award of £50,000 by Chancellor Rishi Sunak from the Restoring Your Railway ‘Ideas Fund’ in his October Budget. The funding will go towards work to develop a new mainstream passenger rail link between Rawtenstall and Buckley Wells near Bury.
Speaking at Rossendale’s recent full council meeting, Coun Alyson Barnes said: “There was a long time when people just didn’t think it would be a goer. We are not going to let this rest. I’m really, really optimistic and this chamber I’m certain will unanimously support this.”
Last month ELR chairman Mike Kelly questioned the viability of the scheme and claimed the development would threaten the future of the heritage railway line.
But Coun Barnes told the meeting: “The council is really pleased to receive government support for our aspriation to reinstate the rail link.
“This of course is being complemented by £100,000 from Lancashire County Council.
“This represents strong support for undertaking an updated business case. The council has reached out to ELR a number of times over the last 12 months, to actively involve ELR in development of the business case to ensure they have a seat at the table and can inform this piece of work.
“On a number of occasions the council has reiterated its support for the ELR.
“I think we are probably in our strongest position ever regarding this initative, and we’d be delighted if we can work really closely with the ELR to ensure they can continue their activity on that line.”
Coun Barnes also responded to a request for an update on the empty retail units at Rawtenstall Bus Station.
Referencing the station’s recent second anniversary, Coun Anne Cheetham quipped: “I didn’t notice a cake, but there were plenty of us waiting for a bus.”
Coun Barnes said the first of four new commercial units was occupied by Coffee Bagel, with the tenancy in the remaining three units requiring additional works in order to meet their requirements.
She added: “We would like to see them occupied in the next three months or so.
“We are looking at pizzas, and a stall that sells light fittings and those sort of things.”
On a request from Coun Alan Neal referencing the killing of schoolboy Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull, she agreed to write to the county council to ensure social services have sufficient resources to safeguard vulnerable children in Rossendale and throughout Lancashire.
Coun Neal had said: “Vulnerable children are slipping from view during the pandemic, putting them at increased risk.”
Coun Barnes replied: “It’s very depressing isn’t it, much of the news coming through around children. There have been some dreadful, dreadful
incidents over the last few weeks and months.”
And following a question from Coun Peter Steen about the removal of two litter bins in Bacup, Coun Adrian Lythgoe, cabinet member for environment, responded: “We have just confirmed a massive audit of all the bins across the authority. In this case over the past two years we have bought nearly 100 new litter bins.
“We haven’t actively removed any bins without replacing them. In future we might move bins around because some are in very strange places at the minute.”