Protester barricaded inside station property
A BUILDER has barricaded himself inside a station master’s house on one of Yorkshire’s best loved railways as he mounts a peaceful protest in a long-running dispute with Network Rail.
Dave Anderson has been broadcasting live on Facebook from inside the property at Ribblehead Station on the scenic Settle and Carlisle Railway, having sealed the windows and doors on Sunday night.
Speaking to The Yorkshire Post yesterday, Mr Anderson said he had been in a financial dispute with Network Rail since he carried out work as part of the renovation of the station master’s house more than four years ago.
He said his firm – DTA Construction Ltd – had worked on the project for 12 weeks and he had since lodged a claim with Network Rail for more than £160,000 for expenses incurred.
The station master’s house underwent a significant renovation costing around £300,000, which was completed in April 2013, and is now leased as a holiday home for up to £1,095 a week.
During one Facebook Live broadcast, Mr Anderson told how he had lost his business and been forced to sell the home he built for his family as a result.
The 52-year-old from Widnes, Cheshire, explained that he did not have the finances needed to bring a civil court case so he had decided to stage the protest as his “last stand”.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation surrounding Mr Anderson and are keen to speak to him to understand his concerns.
“Until we have spoken to him and establish the full facts it would not be appropriate to comment further on this at this time.”