CravenRail The newsletter for supporters of SELRAP: - the Skipton-East Rail Action Partnership Issue 12 Winter 2008/09

“Should the promoters of the scheme to reopen the route from Skipton – Colne be successful in securing funding, then it is likely that this line will have been reopened”..... a look back from the future by ..... as published in the Lancashire and Cumbria Route Utilisation Strategy, August 2008. So the sooner our potential funding partners show their hand and open their purses, the sooner the Skipton-Colne line will become a reality..... Ed.

Colne Skipton SELRAP: Making a Difference and MENDING

THE We’re Getting GAP There!

Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership LINKING CITIES AND REGIONS ACROSS THE NORTH

Patrons: Richard Bannister, Rt Rev. Nicholas Reade, MPs David Curry, Nigel Evans, Anne McIntosh, Gordon Prentice, Kitty Ussher MEPs Chris Davies, Den Dover, Timothy Kirkhope, Brian Simpson, Diana Wallis. 2 Reopening a railway has been likened to pushing a boulder uphill. But SELRAP has gone one better and Contents moved mountains. Tireless campaigning has metamorphosed the case for reopening the Skipton-Colne railway. And now it’s Colne Skipton FRONT COVER The epitome of pre & official. Funding is now the remaining obstacle to SELRAP: post investment: reinstatement of the Skipton-Colne line. Looking back Making A Pacer Train awaits from the future, the quote on the front cover says it a departure from Colne, whilst less than a dozen all: Difference miles away, a modern electric train waits in and Should the promoters of the scheme to reopen the Skipton. route from Skipton – Colne be successful in securing MENDING And now it’s official: Only funding stands in funding, then it is likely that this line will have been THE the way of reinstating We’re reopened. the line that will link the GAP Getting two towns. But it gets better. For, within Network Rail’s recently There But what’s this. Isn’t there a glint of green on published Route Utilisation Strategy for the Lancashire the signal too! & Cumbria region there are further references to the potential for reinstating the Skipton-Colne line. And all of them point in the same direction ..... towards a WE’RE GETTING THERE working assumption that the line will reopen. The A turning point for SELRAP as the campaign to reopen quote below says it all. And there are more ..... the Skipton-Colne line gets a green light. A study commissioned on behalf of local stakeholders 3 COMMENT has identified a potential high level case for reinstatement of the line and services between Skipton On how the Department of Fairy Tales bears a striking and Colne. The most significant issue now is how the resemblance to reality. scheme could be funded. HEADLINES Promoter, local stakeholder ..... call, the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership what you will. For 4 REGULAR READERS REMINDED the fact remains that the study Network Rail refers to 4 NEW MAP UNVEILED was carried out by JMP Consulting on behalf of SELRAP. And, published last year, it has proved to be a turning 4 126 MPs, 47 PEERS & 40 MEPs point for the campaign ..... opening doors previously closed to the group. 5 A TALE OF TWO LINES The photographs below epitomise that fact! 6 MEANWHILE ..... Colne: NEWS The buffer stops at the end of the line. For now ..... 6 WHAT SELRAP’S DOING ABOUT IT But what’s this? As though by magic, the green light points to the fact that, far from being the 6 BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT end of the line, this is the start of a new through route to Skipton, 7 NEW PATRON Leeds, Carlisle, and more. 7 ANOTHER VINTAGE YEAR 8 MORE HEAR OF SELRAP 8 ROUTE UTILISATION STRATEGY 9 AND THE MEDIA TOO Skipton: With apologies for the fact that the photograph 9 ANOTHER NEW PATRON was taken with a very long lens, the line to 9 TELL THE PRIME MINISTER Carlisle curves to the right. The short stub on 9 MORE SUPPORT STILL the left is all that remains of the line to Colne. For 10 APPRECIATE THE SCALE OF IT NOW? now ..... And, just discernible in the distance; isn’t that a 10 GOING THAT EXTRA MILE green light on the buffers 11 SELRAP NEEDS YOU there too? 11 FUNDING THE GAP Beyond the technology to fix red lights, CravenRail 11 closed with the notion that if you only do what you’ve WHAT ELSE always done, you’ll only get what you’ve always had. 12 MEMBERSHIP FORM & CONTACTS Those of us at the thick end of the campaign are more than aware of this. And it has to be said that this is 12 SHOPPERS’ SPECIAL TRAIN one of the reasons why we are where we are ..... with green lights now pointing the way towards engaging 12 EVENTS with potential funding partners. And that new trans- 12 MEETINGS SCHEDULE Pennine rail link ..... 3 Skipton 2008 Comment

Time was when most parts of the country were accessible by rail. Look at it now ..... Once upon a time there was a railway that everyone regarded as a National Treasure. Big enough and bold enough to carry everything that moved, the Queen was proud of her country’s trains, for they enabled factories to be built, towns to grow, and people to travel almost anywhere they wanted. Best of all, they helped to make her country wealthy. FOR WANT OF A RAIL But, as all those familiar with the Department of Fairy Tales will be acutely aware, once upon another time there was a big bad wolf ..... who huffed, and he puffed, and For want of a Rail, the Train well ..... you know the rest! Yet despite unprecedented demands on our rationalised was lost rail network, with surprising similarity to another of those childhood tales, putting it For want of a Train, the all back together again appears to be beyond the combined wit of all the king’s Journey was lost horses and all the king’s men. So to speak. For want of a Journey, the Enough of that. And back to the grown up reality that the nation’s wealth really is Job was lost closely tied to its transport network. Since half the rail network was trashed, there has been a sixfold increase in road traffic. And what with 35 million vehicles For want of a Job, Prosperity currently registered in the UK, it doesn’t take rocket science to realise that road was lost transport has become victim of its own success. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not For want of Prosperity, the knocking road transport per se. For cars, buses and trucks are part of the nuts and Region was lost bolts of society. And, like 70% of the population that have access to a car I, too, appreciate the convenience and versatility it offers. And all for the want of a relaid Rail On the other hand, with employees arriving late for work, unpredictable delivery times for commerce, industry et al, increasing road congestion is costing the nation Colne 2008 dearly. Indeed, the combined cost [to the nation] of road congestion and traffic accidents exceeds £30 billion per year. Then factor into the equation well founded concerns for the environment, accessibility, sustainability, and more. And ..... in 21st century UK ..... the fifth largest economy in the world ..... never forget the bit about choice. I know all of this. You know all of this. The DfT knows it too. Geoff Hoon is the thirteenth Secretary of State for Transport since privatisation of the rail network in 1994. And by the time you read this his advisors will, doubtless, have made him aware of all of this, too. Together with their suggested solutions. To half the nation that already has access to rail services I guess that longer trains and platforms sounds like a sensible sort of idea. Bolt on to that the somewhat belated notion of extending electrification. Together with the odd new line or two if Fact: you can wait another twenty years. And it begins to sounds like a sort of policy. But In 1958 almost 20,000 miles for the other 30 million of us, who had their railways surgically removed ‘cos they of railways were served by weren’t making a profit, all of this is as much hot air. more than 5,000 stations. Worldwide statistics tell us that transport infrastructure almost never makes a profit. Another fact: Meanwhile, fixated, still, with the holy grail of business case, profit et al, worthwhile projects remain stuck in the sand. That said, ask yourself how much profit the road In 2008 2,500 stations serve a outside your home makes. And then ask how life would be without it ..... network of just 10,000 miles. And then, wearing my baby boomer’s hat to cover a balding pate, there’s a wild card With apologies to Benjamin to consider. The most travelled generation ever ..... and many with disposable Franklin et al ..... and thanks income that makes this possible well into retirement ..... by 2015 there will be 15 to SELRAP’s Events Officer, million of us over sixty. Right now I’m perfectly happy to climb into my car and drive Paul Haywood, the poem above says it all. it hundreds of miles. Done it for over forty years. And many of my cohorts would say the same. But how we will feel in the years to come remains to be seen. Yet, Makes you think. having developed the travel habit over many years, I guess that only the wooden box It should. will stop us. Now like it or lump it, the altermative transport of choice for car users is rail. And that’s going to mean a whole lot more demand for rail services. On a But, thanks to tireless much rationalised network that is half the size it was in our youth ..... and already campaigning, SELRAP is on bursting at the seams with more traffic than ever in peacetime Britain. track to “Mend the Gap” between Skipton and Colne. Back to where we came in ..... and questions concerning problems that are with us And with those relaid rails will now. Problems that need addressing within timeframes we can all get our heads come those jobs, that around. With policies that embrace a programme of strategic rail reopenings based prosperity, and more ..... on tightly controlled and agreed parameters. SELRAP: And yes ..... backed by a business case that points to the fact that the quantifiable benefits of reopening the Skipton-Colne line will exceed incurred costs by a factor of Making a difference ..... 2.4:1 ..... the campaign goes on. Andy Shackleton - Editor 4

AS THOUGH REGULAR FOLLOWERS OF ..... And the proposal is so far from dying as to beggar belief. So it’s official! Reopening the SELRAP’S campaign needed reminding. But with Skipton-Colne railway is a good idea! circulation of CravenRail going off the scale, it figures that many readers will be new to the 126 MPs THINK SO TOO ..... Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Which translates into the fact that 20% of UK Partnership. Together with the campaign for re- MPs now back SELRAP’s campaign to reopen instatement of the Skipton–Colne railway line as the Skipton-Colne railway. In the last six part of a new, modern, trans-Pennine route months, letters or messages of support have been for passengers and freight. received from: David Heyes (Ashton-under-Lyne), A voluntary group with 350 members, and rising, Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North), Mark Hunter SELRAP is led by an Executive Committee with (Cheadle), Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough), task-specific officers. Tireless campaigning has Lynne Jones (Birmingham Selly Oak), Nick Clegg metamorphosed the case for reopening the (Sheffield Hallam), Rt Hon George Howarth Skipton-Colne railway from headlines that (Knowsley North & Sefton East), Anne McIntosh screeched “Non Starter” and “Pipe Dream” ..... to (Vale of York), Michael Clapham (Barnsley West & ones that read quite simply When and How Penistone), Derek Twigg (Halton), David Crausby Soon? Those at the thick end of the campaign (Bolton North East), Paul Rowen (Rochdale), Roger are driven by a passion to rebuild just a tiny Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire), Adrian part of a network trashed in the dash for Sanders (Torbay), Tim Yeo (South Suffolk), Steve modernity. And after seven years of amazing Webb (North Avon), Alan Beith (Berwick-upon- work that has taken members of the group to the Tweed), Richard limit of their experience and, at times, beyond ..... Younger-Ross SELRAP is aware that the remaining obstacle to (Teignbridge), Danny reopening the line is funding. Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & AS THE STYLISED MAP BELOW ..... Strathspey), Andrew makes abundantly clear, juxtaposed between NB. The full list of MPs already Stunnell (Hazel Grove) Leeds and Manchester, when reopened as a supporting SELRAP can be and through route [in tandem with the 400 yard found on: www.selrap.org.uk (Harwich). stretch of line known as the Todmorden Curve] We now have the backing of 47 members of the Skipton-Colne railway will create a much- the House of Lords. Sadly one supporter from needed new rail route for those wishing to the House of Lords, Lord Beaumont, has died. The latest peers to support our campaign are: Lord Roberts of Llandudno and Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract. Amazingly over half of UK MEPs are now behind the campaign, the present total being 40. They are: Yorkshire & Humberside: Diana Wallis, Edward McMillan-Scott (Vice-President of the European Parliament), Timothy Kirkhope, Linda McAvan, , Richard access the North of England’s major Corbett. North West: economic drivers. And the increasing numbers Chris Davies, Den Dover, wishing to travel between them for both business Brian Simpson, Rt Hon and leisure purposes. Sir Robert Atkins, Gary Titley, Sajjad Karim, With commute times of approximately one hour John Whittaker, Arlene McCarthy, David Sumberg. to Leeds and Manchester, the population of North East: Stephen Hughes, Fiona Hall. East much of Pennine Lancashire will be able to take Midlands: Robert Kilroy-Silk, , Glenis advantage of new employment opportunities. Willmott. West Midlands: , Philip And then there’s the bit about the environment, Bradbourn, Philip Bushill-Matthews, Liz Lynne, sustainability, the easing of road congestion, air Michael Cashman, Neena Gill. Eastern: Andrew quality, et al ..... Duff. South East: Dr Caroline Lucas, Baroness The writer’s wife once famously commented that: Nicholson of Winterbourn. South West: Giles Good ideas sell themselves. More famous by Chichester, , Neil Parish, Graham far, in a recent interview, Foreign Secretary David Watson, Glyn Ford. Miliband said: The whole point about good Scotland: Catherine ideas is that they don't die. OK, so both quotes Action: Stilher, David Martin, are taken out of context. But whichever way you If your MP or MEP is not John Purvis CBE. look at it, the messages within them remain. listed as a SELRAP supporter, London: John Bowis As does the continued growth in support for please contact them and ask them to write a letter or email OBE, Jean Lambert. SELRAP’s campaign. Which points to the notion supporting the reopening of that, for all sorts of reasons, the proposal to the Skipton to Colne railway. Wales: Glenys Kinnock reopen the Skipton-Colne railway is selling itself. 5

Blackburn, Skipton, RG. Burney Barr. Burnley Ctrl. Nelson Colne Preston, Leeds, 25,000 2,000 110,000 19,000 79,000 62,000 Blackpool & Bradford, WCML NB. Figures show individual station footfalls for 2006/7 ECML, Carlisle & Morcambe Yet less than a dozen miles away, the Airedale line linking Skipton with Leeds carries 75% of the commuter flow within the corridor. Indeed, electrified in 1994, the line has gained the enviable reputation of being one of the most heavily used commuter routes outside London. But there is more. For, factored into the equation are frequent long distance freight services. The result is a line that is plainly doing just what it said on the [promoter’s] box. Linking the wider corridor of the route with Leeds, Above: A Pacer train awaits departure from EAST LANCASHIRE VALLEY: PENDLE/COLNE - BURNLEY RG. Colne’s simple station ..... served only by hourly services to Blackpool. • Mix urban industrial/rural population: 180,000 Right: • Distance Skipton-Burnley Rosegrove: 17 miles A mile down the line from Colne, all • Service: Hourly (Mainly Pacers) trains have to stop in order for their • Rail passengers 2007: 297,000 (station figure above) drivers to pull a rope which activates • Rail journeys/head of population:1.65. the level crossing before proceeding.

A TALE OF TWO LINES: Bradford, and the rest of the nation’s growing industrial economy, it made a vast contribution Both were engineered for heavy use by to the region when the line was built a hundred passenger and freight trains. Both serve and sixty years ago. And, thanks to thoughtful surprisingly similar areas ..... with similar investment and upgrading to meet the population density and profiles. For more than increasing demands of the 21st century, it 120 years they were part of a trans-Pennine continues to do so. route that linked markets and communities with each other ..... and their economic drivers. Pre-investment in electrification and upgrading, half empty Pacer Trains that mirrored those on the But look at them now. Just 800,000 passengers Colne branch used to rattle up and down the line. use services on the 40 mile route between Colne and Blackpool, whilst a staggering 7 million use But look at it now: the transport of choice for the 30 mile Aire Valley line that links Skipton millions. And part of the nuts and bolts of society.

AIRE VALLEY: CRAVEN/SKIPTON-SHIPLEY: • Mix urban industrial/rural: population: 180,000 • Distance Skipton-Shipley: 17 miles • Service: Up to 6 per hour (Mainly electric) • Rail passengers 2007: 4.86million (station figures below) • Rail journeys/head of population: 26.7

with Leeds. Station footfall figures on the diagrams above and below say it all. The Colne branch currently shelters under the umbrella of a Community Rail Partnership that, under difficult circumstances, is working hard. Indeed, at the time of writing a brand new Transport Interchange is close to completion a couple of miles down the line in Nelson. This exciting combination of bus and upgraded rail facilities on the station site has integrated Skipton: Up to six services per hour. This transport stamped all over it. But, situated on electric train will take just 40 the downgraded and singled, remnant of that minutes to reach Leeds. once-through route, in rail terms, the region it And to the right: serves will [for now] remain semi-detached. A heavy freight train speeds through the station. Glasgow, Leeds, Carlisle & Bradford Morcambe & ECML

Skipton: Cononley: Steeton & S. Keighley: Crossflatts: Bingley: Saltaire: Shipley: Colne, Preston, 820,000 110,000 510,000 1.2 million 200,000 740,000 420,000 860,000 + , Interchange Manchester NB. Figures show individual station footfalls for 2006/7 &WCML 6

MEANWHILE ..... SO WHAT’S SELRAP DOING ABOUT IT ..... Back on the other side of the Pennines, Lancashire Commissioned by SELRAP and published in County Council, the East Lancashire Community November 2007, the landmark JMP study Rail Partnership, and Network Rail confirmed SELRAP’s long-held belief that the are working hard to make the best of the Skipton-Colne line has a promising future. For those unfamiliar with the facts, the key limited potential of the Colne branch. Stations messages within the JMP study are that: on the line have been smartened up and, close to completion at the time of writing, Nelson’s new • The Skipton-Colne line has strategic and regional value ..... and could be catalyst for the restoration of direct rail links between East Lancashire and Manchester. Also, the line could provide a link between the East and West Coast Main lines. And ports. • The entire trackbed is safeguarded against development that would prevent its re-use as a railway, and construction of a single or double track railway, at a cost of between £43 Million and £81 Million, is feasible. • By 2014, passenger figures for the line could be as high as 565,000 per annum ..... rising to 759,000 by Transport Interchange looks set to make a start 2024 ..... generating an income of £2million. on integrated transport for the region. • The Benefit:Cost ratio for the Skipton-Colne line could But there is no escaping from the fact that, for be as high as 2.43:1. In other words, for every £1 now, the Colne branch is a dead end line. A cul spent on reopening the route and providing train services on it, the quantifiable benefits for doing so de sac. Posh for a street that goes nowhere. would be £2.43! There’s one just round the corner from you. NB In accordance with DfT guidance, figures used Remember? And the closer to the end you get, within the study include loadings of 66% for capital the less traffic uses it. That so few use the costs, and 41% on operating costs. And still the figures Colne line is less surprising already. stack up ..... Ed. Typically, rail journeys from Colne-Manchester • Reopening the Skipton-Colne line would reduce Co2 take 1¾ hours ..... whilst those to Leeds take emissions, reduce the number of road accidents, 2½ hours. Both journeys require a change of and deliver environmental and safety benefits of between £7 million and £12 million ..... and deliver train. And single line stretches can result in trains improved accessibility, benefiting areas with high being delayed. Or cancelled without notice! levels of deprivation. Moreover, as no direct routes are available, costs • Additional employment and visitor spend in the are commensurate with the distance travelled. region are estimated to have a value in the range £86 million to £195 million over the appraisal period. • The scheme enjoys strong local, regional and national support. And offers value for money. To see the full study visit: www.selrap.org.uk BROAD BASE OF SUPPORT The fact that 126 MPs, 47 Peers and 40 MEPs have already written to SELRAP endorsing the campaign is little short of astonishing. But it is Above: far from accidental. Indeed, it is the result of Burnley: Pacer Train, single line monumental efforts to develop a broad base of railway, 15 arch viaduct. The line crosses a 6 arch span in Colne too. support for reopening the Skipton-Colne line Right: that simply cannot be ignored. Colne station. Pacer Train. Hourly Thanks to those efforts, SELRAP now has service. One man and his dog. backing of the following County Councillors: Without doubt, the Colne branch, is being all Lancashire (35): dressed up. But, isolated from the region’s Terry Aldridge, Albert Atkinson, economic drivers, there is still nowhere for it Action: Timothy Ashton, Malcolm to go. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, its If your County Barron, Jean Battle, Terry Burns, massive infrastructure will remain under utilised Councillor is not Mike Calvert, Susie Charles, on a grand scale. The only option for its listed, please contact them and Chris Cheetham, Christopher future viability is reinstatement as part of the ask them to , William Cropper, through route it once was. Juxtaposed between write a letter or Shelagh Derwent, Sarah Leeds and Manchester, when reopened as a email supporting Fishwick, Christopher Holtom, through route [in tandem with the Todmorden the reopening of Jennifer Mein, David O’Toole, the Colne to Curve] the Skipton-Colne railway will create a new Skipton railway. Tim Ormrod, Miles Parkinson, route for those wishing to access the North of Mark Perks, Tony Pimblett, England’s major economic drivers. And the Doreen Pollitt (Deputy Leader), Sonia Robinson, increasing numbers wishing to travel between Duncan Ruddick, Elizabeth Scott, Thomas them for both business and leisure purposes. Sharratt, Richard Shepherd, Joyce Stuart, Stephen Sutcliffe, Matthew Tomlinson, Colin Walton, 7

Michael Welsh, Dorothy Westell, Francis Williams, 2008: ANOTHER VINTAGE YEAR Valerie Wilson, Jean Yates. With the case for reopening the Skpton-Colne line North Yorkshire (19): proven beyond doubt by the JMP study, and an eye on progressing the proposal to the reality, Please understand that the Dr Keith Barnes, Eric SELRAP embarked on a strategic programme of supporters listed here, and on Broadbent, Rob Broadley, previous pages, are elected Gordon Charlton, major new initiatives. individuals and/or bodies who Margaret-Ann De have taken time out to study The list of those initiatives is a long one. At the SELRAP’s aims and objectives ..... Courcey-Bailey, Polly top of it are plans to present the case for and written in support of them. English, John Fletcher, reopening the Skipton-Colne line to the Minister If your local Councillor/ Council is John Fort, Heather responsible for rail. Indeed, prior to the recent not listed here, or on our website: Garnett, Richard Hall, Cabinet reshuffle, a meeting with former Rail www.selrap.org.uk please contact David Heather, Robert Minister Tom Harris was lined up for the latter part the Leader or the Chairperson Heseltine, Bill Hoult, and ask them to write a letter or of 2008. And, at the time of writing, SELRAP email supporting the reopening of Michael Knaggs, Carl Les, Patron Gordon Prentice MP is arranging for a the Colne to Skipton railway. Morris Lightfoot, Steve delegation to meet the recently appointed The more support that SELRAP’s Macare, J.W. Marshall, Minister of State for Transport, Lord Adonis. campaign to reopen the Skipton- Shelagh Marshall, Leslie Colne line has, the more difficult Parkes, John Wren. SELRAP is aware that any rail reopening is it is to ignore. conditional upon the unequivocal support of the appropriate Local Authorities and Regional But then it gets better. For, since the last issue of Development Agencies. Thus has evolved a CravenRail, Councils for the following areas have programme designed to address those crucial signed up to support the campaign to reopen the requirements. Skipton-Colne railway, bringing our total Council support to 147: With this in mind, 2008 has been quite a year for SELRAP. Indeed, to date, delegations have met North Yorkshire, Liverpool, Burnley, Fylde, Wyre, Colne, Kirkby Lonsdale, Morley, Nelson, Otley, with and made presentations to the following , Ripon, St Annes, Barnacre-with-Bonds, bodies and organisations: Bowland Forest Higher Division, Burton-in-Kendal, • Lancashire County Council Catterall, Ellel, Felliscliffe, Forton, Grimsargh, • North Yorkshire County Council Hambleton, Higham with West Close Booth, • The North West Regional Development Agency, Ingleton, Kirkby Overblow, Kirkland, Pilling, North West Regional Assembly Government Ripponden, Thornton in Lonsdale,Treales, Office for the North West & The Department for Roseacre & Wharles, Ulnes Walton, Warton, and Transport (joint meeting!) Wheelton. • Yorkshire Forward & The Northern Way NEW PATRON • West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York has • Network Rail become SELRAP’s eleventh patron. Pictured • Northern Rail below, she writes: I am delighted to lend my support • East Lancashire Chambers of Commerce as a patron of the Skipton-East • The All Party Parliamentary Rail Group Lancashire Rail Action Partnership. I • The Kilbride Group (Development Company) am a great supporter of Community Railways, and feel strongly about • Haworth Parish Council re- instating local Community • The Inland Waterways Association Railways wherever possible and At each of these meetings, SELRAP was in receipt appropriate. Destinations over the border become more accessible with of sound advice on the way forward. And with an easy route to Leeds, Bradford this in mind, also in the frame for future and other conurbations in Yorkshire, meetings are: giving a boost to the economies of • The Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Assembly the towns along the route as the opportunities for business, tourism • Government Office for Yorkshire & Humberside and leisure in the area would be • Greater Manchester PTE significantly increased. Additionally, as demonstrated by the growing list As well as offering local people the chance to frequent of supporters published elsewhere in CravenRail, shops, markets and tourist destinations along the route, throughout the year SELRAP’s campaign has the revival of this line would inevitably mean more gained the support of countless other visitors were attracted to these towns and cities. The organisations that include Passenger Colne-Skipton line would open up local attractions and the surrounding countryside, allowing more people to Transport Authority, Passenger Focus (Rail learn about the area, the natural environment and enjoy Passenger Watchdog), Railfuture, The Campaign some of the world’s most beautiful green spaces. for Better Transport, the Confederation of British As roads become more and more congested and we try Industry, and more. And with the aim of bringing to combat the effects of Climate Change, railway lines even more on side, SELRAP has liaised with and like this one would cut the need for so many journeys lobbied many more besides the above. being made by car. Making both short and long journeys by rail brings an important opportunity to cut carbon So. If your organisation has not been approached emissions and make travelling for work and leisure already ..... we’ll be on to you! All in the best purposes more environmentally friendly and enjoyable. possible taste, of course ..... aimed at bringing 8 joined up and sustainable transport to a corridor much in need of it. It might be worth remembering at this point that, despite a growing reputation and breathtaking list of achievements that might be interpreted otherwise, SELRAP is a voluntary organisation. The fact that the group is able to engage on a regular basis with bodies and organisations such as those outlined above is testimony to the vast amount of hard work willingly undertaken by its members. Together with their sheer passion for reinstating the Skipton-Colne railway as part of a new trans-Pennine route for passengers and freight. It also says much about the rationale behind that reinstatement. For, amongst those who matter it is no longer the “if” word. But “when” the line will reopen. And now with formal recognition of the fact that funding is the remaining obstacle, SELRAP is aware of the need to rack up the pressure on those with the power to say “Yes”. STILL MORE ARE HEARING OF SELRAP CravenRail is distributed free of charge to SELRAP members and all other readers. 5,000 copies of CravenRail 11 were printed. But interest in reopening the Skipton-Colne railway is soaring. And readers will be thrilled to learn that, such is the demand to keep up to speed with the campaign that, astonishingly, 8,000 copies of this issue have been printed. SELRAP wishes to thank printers Hudson and Pearson for their proactive support of SELRAP’s 'train operator of the year' in the national community rail campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne railway ..... awards, and also getting Business in the Community's that makes it possible for us to produce national award for excellence in rural action. CravenRail in eye catching full colour. You are all passionate and dedicated people with endless patience and determination! I wish you all the very best That said, readers will also appreciate that printing in your campaign and I look forward to working with you costs are not inconsiderable. And SELRAP also in the months and years ahead. wishes to thank Northern Rail for sponsoring this issue of CravenRail. NB For details of the train trip Kathryn refers to, see the back page of CravenRail. Pictured below, Kathryn O’Brien, Stakeholder Manager for Northern Rail writes the following: ROUTE UTILISATION STRATEGY As the Client and Stakeholder Network Rail is required by the Manager for your area, I am Office of Rail Regulation to delighted to be back after almost produce Route Utilisation 14 months off, and find myself Strategies for each of the UK working with you all yet again to regions. Taking a strategic look provide a "shopper special" service at the entire rail network, all the way from Skipton through to Colne! It is great to see! together with its usage and capability in relation to current Northern is a huge company with and anticipated future demand, a mammoth task of "doing the day job" of running 2,500 trains each where shortfalls in capacity are weekday serving over 500 stations identified the RUS is tasked across the North of England. We with identifying options for are primarily a local train operator with a vision of addressing them. providing the most sustainable means of connecting people to opportunities. Our services are vital to the Whilst, for obvious reasons, A study commissioned economic, social and environmental health and well relating to the Yorkshire & on behalf of local being of the communities we serve. stakeholders has Humberside and North West Since our franchise began in December 2004 we have identified a potential regions, the Skipton-Colne made a real difference to communities in the North of high level case for route falls entirely within the England. We have supported a range of charities we reinstatement of the line remit of the Lancashire and have sponsored a growing number of community rail and services between Cumbria RUS. partnerships and we are backing a wide range of local Skipton and Colne. The community projects. Our station adoption programme is most significant issue And guess what. Published by a model for others to follow. now is how the scheme Network Rail in August 2008, could be funded. All of this was reflected in winning the 2007 award for that self same Lancashire and 9

Cumbria Rail Utilisation Strategy includes no ANOTHER NEW PATRON less than six references to reopening the Brian Simpson MEP for the North West has Skipton-Colne railway. But it gets better, for become SELRAP’s twelfth patron. Pictured below, the combined message within those references he writes: points to the fact that within Network Rail there With our railways at bursting point is a working assumption that the Skipton- it is essential that our railway Colne line will reopen. Eventually! infrastructure receives the Citing the remaining obstacle to reinstating the investment levels needed to ensure that they can do the job we require line as funding, the report states that there is of them. In my role as the Socialist broad support for the scheme. And that it would Group's Spokesman on Transport in offer new journey opportunities and reduced the European Parliament I get to journey times for communities both within and see at first hand how other beyond the new corridor. Together with the fact countries provide services, not only that deprived communities would benefit from domestically but internationally also. One factor that always improved links to Leeds. The report also emerges is that for any inter city or suggests that, due to its gentle gradients, the line international high speed service to may be a suitable alternative freight route. succeed it must be supported by well developed feeder services that link in the whole of a region to the railway Should the promoters Quotes from the Lancashire and network. of the scheme to Cumbria RUS, published by reopen the route from Network Rail appear on this, That is why Skipton to Colne is important. This is a missing link that when re-instatement occurs will not Skipton – Colne be and other pages. successful in securing only link in with the railway network, but will also funding, then it is likely To the left is a peek back from the provide the stimulus for much needed economic that this line will have future ..... regeneration and social mobility. been reopened. This link is long overdue and it is about time something was done to put this situation right. To see the entire report visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/ru TELL THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT SELRAP s%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategi A member of the es/lancashire%20and%20cumbria/lancashire%2 public has put a 0and%20cumbria%20rus.pdf petition on the Government The line between Skipton AND THE MEDIA TOO ..... website. and Colne is closed and Action: has been completely out Throughout the course of the year, SELRAP has been the (for those with an email Sign of service since 1970. As a consequence it is not subject of much media address) possible to travel by rail attention. The campaign to Please go to our website: between conurbations on reopen the Skipton-Colne www.selrap.org.uk the route, and between our most of the route and railway has featured in & click on the box as on Leeds. A number of Railway Magazine, Rail right, fill in your details, communities on the route Magazine and Today’s then click on ‘sign’ & then to validate it ..... between Nelson and Railways. But that’s far from Petition Skipton suffer from Click on the email No 10 deprivation and would the whole story ..... for, in sends you ..... & then benefit from improved addition to regular updates on spread the word! links to Leeds. In addition, progress in the local press, full the Leeds – Hebden length features have Bridge – – appeared too. But, grand AND MORE SUPPORT, STILL Preston route currently has a service frequency of daddy of them all has to be the SELRAP’s campaign enjoys vast support across one train per hour and to four page illustrated feature the spectrum ..... ranging from large business access it passengers from on SELRAP’s campaign that concerns to trade unions, sports clubs, colleges, Nelson and Colne would found its way on to the front and more. With apologies for the font size [‘cos have to either interchange there is so much support], they appear below: at Accrington or walk page of the Yorkshire Post across the centre of Magazine. Regarded by many 70 businesses: Burnley. For passengers in as the region’s national Homeloan Management Ltd, Mills, Studio Burnley this service via newspaper, interestingly, the 127, Keighley, The Vacuum Shop, Keighley, The Skipton and Colne would paper’s editor describes the Pumpkin, Skipton, Craven Cameras, Skipton, Choice, be 10 minutes faster than Keighley, C & H Brown, Skipton, The Sweet Shop, the existing one via the relationship with SELRAP as Skipton, Carlo's Restaurant, Colne, Jim's Vegetarian Calder Valley. The line a partnership. Restaurant, Colne, Boundary Mill Stores, Airedale may be a suitable In addition to featuring on local Springs Ltd, The Ecology Building Society, The alternative to routeing Environmental Transport Association, Skipton Building existing and additional radio news, the campaign to Society, Good Energy, Marsden Building Society, trains through the Calder reopen Skipton-Colne railway Blackburn Football Club, Blackpool Football Club, Burnley Valley, especially freight was highlighted on Radio 4 Football Club, Accrington Stanley Football Club, Buoyant due to the gentler with a fifteen minute slot on the Upholstery Ltd, Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce, gradients. prestigious You and Yours Catholic Building Society, Cravendale Guest House, Network Rail: programme. The campaign Wigan Warriors Rugby League, Barnfield Construction, Lancs & Cumbria RUS Leeds Building Society, Dales (Contracts) Ltd, Dales August 2008 also featured on BBC TV North Renewables Ltd, Eco Design Architectural Practice, Suma West Tonight. Wholefoods, the phone coop, Paperback, The Keighley & Worth Valley Light Railway Ltd, Rossiter & Co, Red 10

Please understand that the Triangle Vegetarian Café, Union, Pendle Community Network, Pendle supporters listed throughout Herriots Hotel, Hudson & Environmental Network, Pendle Forest Cycling Club, CravenRail are real individuals, Pearson Ltd, Mailbox Pendle Leisure Trust, Pendle Partnership, Sustrans, The bodies/organisations, businesses, Mouldings international Ltd, Ramblers Association, The Ramblers North East pressure groups and the like. Mailbox Mouldings Lancashire Area, Clitheroe Group, Shipley Green Party, Each and every one of them has international Ltd (Eire), Soil Association, Upper Calder Valley Renaissance taken time out to write to SELRAP Medstor, Micrex-Profiles, Sustainable Transport Group, Together, offering their support for Micropol, Opto International Yorkshire Baptist Association. reopening the Skipton-Colne Inc (USA), Opto Mailbox 40 affiliated organisations. railway. That is why they are International (Sweden), listed. Opto Systems GMBH Including businesses, voluntary groups and councils they Support on such a scale as this (Germany), Red Triangle are: Addingham Parish Council, Aire Valley Rail User simply cannot be ignored. Vegetarian Café, Skipton Group, ASLEF, Skipton Branch, Parish Chamber of Trade & Council, Blacko Parish Council, Blackpool & Fylde Rail Those with the power to say Users Association, Bradford Rail Users Group, Burnley “yes”, please note! Commerce, The Stamford Group Ltd, Greater Friends of the Earth, Campaign for Better Transport, Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Stable Cross B & B, Campaign for the Preservation of Rural England, CAMRA Colne, E.ON Energy, North & Western Lancashire East Lancashire, Colne Cycling Campaign, Craven Chamber of Commerce, North East Railtours, CBI North Voluntary Action, Dales (Contracts) Ltd, Dales West, East Lancs Chamber of Commerce, Elevate East Renewables Ltd, Draughton Parish Council, Earby Parish Lancashire, Electrical Sales Ltd, S & J Engineering, Leeds Council, Eco Design Architectural Practice, Electrical Carnegie Rugby Union, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League, NR Sales Ltd, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Trust, Automatics (Engineering) Ltd, Protec Fire Detection Foulridge Parish Council, Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Equipment Ltd, CBI Yorkshire and the Humber, Yorkshire Line, Kirklees Green Party, Lancaster & Skipton Rail User Building Society, Manchester Opera House, Sefton Group, Long Preston Parish Council, Midland Railway Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Green Express Society, Pendle Community Credit Union, Pendle Railtours, The Palace Theatre, Manchester. Environmental Network, Rail Future Yorkshire, Red Triangle Vegetarian Café, Reedley Hallows Parish Council, 7 Trade Union Organisations: Ribble Valley Rail, Save the ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Lancashire Association of TUCs, Association, Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce, the TUC Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Council, Unite Skipton Town Council, The Keighley & Worth Valley Light the Union & Unite the Union, Burnley Branch. Railway Ltd, Todmorden Town Council, Trawden Parish NB Includes all three Rail Unions! Council, Unite the Union (Amicus), Burnley Branch and 14 Rail and Public Transport Organisations: Worsthorne-with-Hurstwood Parish Council Action: Please encourage any group you are a member Merseyside PTA, Rail Passenger Committee NW, Aire of/business you work for or use/ union branch, not on Valley Rail User Group, Blackpool & Fylde Rail Users the above list, to go that extra step further and affiliate Association, Bradford Rail Users Group, Embsay & Bolton to SELRAP. Membership is modest at just £10 p.a. Not Abbey Steam Railway, Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, only will it show that extra commitment to the reopening The Keighley & Worth Valley Light Railway Ltd, Lancaster but it also adds much needed funds for our campaign. & Skipton Rail User Group, Midland Railway Society, Railfuture Yorkshire, Ribble Valley Rail, Save the East With every last bit of it piling up at the feet of Lancashire Line Association, Campaign for Better those with the power to say “Yes”! Transport (Transport 2000). APPRECIATE THE SCALE OF IT NOW? 27 Educational bodies: For there can be no doubting the University of Central Lancashire, There is broad support Action: for retaining the option clamour to reinstate just 11½ Bradford University, , to reinstate the line If your employer, a Nelson & Colne College, Skipton Girls’ miles of railway line that will business you use, or a between Colne and open up rail travel to whole High School, Craven College, Park Skipton, and it is group/organisation you Lane College Keighley, Pendle District new tranche of the are a member or user of recommended that the Youth Council, Burnley Play formation is protected. population. And its message is is not listed, please Association, U3A Bebington, U3A contact them and ask Network Rail: unequivocal..... Bromsborough, U3A Bradford, U3A them to write a letter or Lancs & Cumbria RUS Burnley, U3A Harrogate, U3A SOME SUPPORTERS GO THAT email supporting the August 2008 EXTRA MILE ..... reopening of the Northenden (Manchester), U3A Skipton-Colne railway. Richmond, U3A Sale, U3A , As the reader will begin to appreciate ..... U3A Wirral, U3A Formby, U3A York, Colne Primet High School, University of Manchester Brighouse station was crowded with over 250 people Students' Union, University of Bolton Students' Union, early one morning over the [August] bank holiday to Chorley U3A, The Lancashire Link Network of U3AS, catch a rail excursion organised by Kirklees Green University of Bolton. Party. A twelve carriage train, operated by Green Express Railtours of East Yorkshire, carried 600 people to 38 Other: Edinburgh who were picked up in East Lancashire and at Age Concern Bradford & District, Age Concern Hebden Bridge before Brighouse. The 1.21 billion passenger Lancashire, Age Concern Leeds, Bolton Friends of the train travelled up the east coast and journeys were made by Earth, Burnley Forum for Lesbians and Gays, Burnley, returned via the west coast mainline. rail in 2007. Pendle & Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service, Organiser Clive Lord of Batley said: Burnley Friends of the Earth, Campaign for the More than at any time since 1946. And on a “This was one of the best Green Preservation of Rural England, CAMRA East Lancashire, network roughly half the Party annual excursions. Passengers Central Lancashire Friends of the Earth, Colne Cycling size it was then. had five hours to enjoy the festival Campaign, Craven CPRE, Craven Voluntary Action, Colne atmosphere and the sunshine of Market Town Partnership, The Craven Trust, Craven Edinburgh. Over £300 was collected for the charity Voluntary Action, East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, Practical Action to fund the cost of rebuilding 10 flood Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust, resistant housing in Bangladesh. A further £200 was Calderdale Primary Care Trust, Green Party North West, shared between the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Green Party Yorkshire and the Humber, Kirklees Green Partnership and the Huddersfield Transition Town Party, Lee Barkirgian Family Trust, Nelson Independent project.” Prizes were donated by Edinburgh Bicycle Co- Labour Party, Land Society, Pendle Community Credit operative (Leeds shop) and Vinceremos Organic Wines. 11

SELRAP NEEDS YOU! We need someone like YOU, who believes in our cause, and can give us just a few hours of your time each Events Officer, Paul Haywood tells it how it is: month. Maybe you’re good at fund-raising, maybe you As any reader will know, if you put your head above the have experience with mailshots or publicity, perhaps you parapet, you risk getting it shot off! Equally, unless you have some good ideas which we need to take on-board? make the effort to look up and out, all you’ll see is the Don’t be afraid ..... come and get involved. I did, and I mud in the trench! don’t regret a minute! And ust think ..... when the line I am a comparatively new member of SELRAP and my reopens and your Grandson/daughter says to you decision to join the campaign as an interested by- “Grandad/Grandma, what did YOU do during the great stander stemmed from my wish to ride on SELRAP’S first SELRAP campaign?” You can stand back, take a deep “Missing Link” special train between Colne and Skipton in breath, and proudly tell him ..... “Lad, I did my bit!” April 2007. This first through train for 37 years had to Here’s one way in which you can help NOW ..... We need take the ludicrously long, 50-mile Burnley/Blackburn/ volunteers to help staff our display stands at future Hellifield route to achieve its goal, highlighting the lack events. For details of these, see back page. of just 11½ miles of track between the important regions of Pendle and Craven. If you would like to get involved, please contact: Paul Haywood, 3 High Croft Way, Farnhill, Keighley SELRAP continues to go that extra mile or two. In more ways BD20 9AP Tel: 01535 630369 than one. You can join in the fun by taking the Boundary Mill Christmas Shoppers’ Special train from Skipton to Colne on FUNDING THE GAP Sunday 7th December. But what with the direct line being £43 million for a single track rebuild. £81 million closed, SELRAP’s third excursion will, once again, follow a zany route ....this time out and back via Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, for a double track rebuild. Sounds like an awful Hebden Bridge and the Copy Pit line. lot of money. Until you consider it in the grand A 150 mile round trip featuring six reversals in direction. How scheme of things. Respectively representing just daft can it get? But that’s the whole point. To highlight the 72p and £1.35 each for the UK population of 60 need to reopen the direct route, when the journey will take a million, it begins to sound like something of a mere 15 minutes. bargain. The more so when set against those And to give that plastic its Christmas bashing, too! bail-outs that have been floated across our bows See back page for details, and how to book. recently. Yes ..... this was crazy, and I decided to become a And whilst the world is busily coping with financial member. Even then, my decision to join was more in the problems on a previously unimaginable scale, the way of a sympathy gesture and my £5 membership fee seemed a reasonable sum to pay for the feel-good factor UK Government has hinted at the possibility of of thinking that I was “doing my bit.” building our way out of recession. The notion But then ..... I started to attend meetings and listen to is not new. It happened in the ‘thirties, when all the presentations given by long-standing members of manner of transport infrastructure was the Executive Committee who regularly and successfully built/upgraded. make well-researched representations to the high and the mighty to promote our cause. Bolt this notion on to recent hints that, at long last, Government is looking at the possibility of Thanks to these “Best of luck to SELRAP with further electrification and the odd new line or their excellent plan” presentations, it soon became two. And it begins to look like a way through the Ian “Off the Rails” Hislop evident to me ocean of acronym that conceals pots of cash that Editor Private Eye & TV Panellist that the Skipton- are plainly available for rainy days and the like. on “Have I got News for You” Colne route was more than just a STOP PRESS lost country railway linking two small towns. The In his response to a question about reopening the Skipton- reasons why our line is essential will be made elsewhere Colne railway from SELRAP Patron Gordon MP, the Rt. Hon Geoff in this issue, but I soon became convinced that our Hoon, Secretary of Statefor Transport, said: campaign was absolutely essential for the urban “I am sure that, with his commitment to local government and regeneration and the renaissance of rail services linking democracy, he will not mind me saying that if there is a strong Pendle and East Lancashire with Craven and Airedale, local case for reopening railway lines, the case can be made and with benefits at both ends of the route. brought to the Department, where it will be looked at As a lifelong believer in railways, having travelled on favourably. I am sure that he would not want me to interfere in these matters from the lofty heights of central London, as it them in more than thirty countries, I knew that the tide would be better if he could persuade the local authorities along was turning back in favour of rail. Even hard-headed car the line in question to make the case for reopening the line and users now understood that roads do not solve our to get on with it.” HoC: 21st Oct .2008 national transport problems. So ..... where did that leave me? If I was to be true to And if the weather in 2008 is anything to go by, my convictions and beliefs, I would have to do whatever we will have our railway sooner rather than later! I could to help. To do nothing was to believe nothing. Knowing that I needed to put my money where my All of that said, SELRAP is busily unravelling all mouth was, I nervously took on the role of Events Co- those acronyms and keeping up the pressure on ordinator. This grand sounding title simply meant that I those with the power to say “Yes”. arrange for SELRAP displays and leaflets to be on show at various local and regional exhibitions and fairs. But Interesting times ahead! my job, and those of everyone on the Executive Committee, would be made so much easier if we had DR JIM BURTON more help. Founder member of SELRAP, and group stalwart, Dr Jim I’ve no special skills other than my enthusiasm and a Burton MBE died earlier in the year after a long illness. belief in the cause. We can’t all be academics with A former regional chairman of the Council for the analytical minds, capable of penning persuasive prose Protection of Rural England, and a Vice-Chairman of the backed by solid facts. Like any organisation, we need a Yorkshire Dales Society, Jim was a passionate and cross-section of involvement - so just by attending experienced campaigner for environmental issues. meetings and events, your presence will keep us Jim was a good friend of SELRAP. His enthusiasm, encouraged and more able to move forward. experience and expertise is sadly missed by the group. 12

IN A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH

MEMBERSHIP FORM Name:...... Address:...... Tel:...... Mobile:...... Sunday 7th December e mail:...... SKIPTON to COLNE (5 minutes walk to store) The first train originating in Skipton and going direct to I wish to become a member of SELRAP and Colne for 38 years! A scenic train ride over the Aire and enclose my Annual Membership Fee of £5.00 Calder valley routes, plus over four hours for: [Concessions: £3], Groups £10, Life £50 LUNCH AND BARGAIN SHOPPING AT and/or make a donation by Cheque payable to SELRAP; or by filling out the Standing BOUNDARY MILL STORES Banker’s Order below: COLNE’S NEW MILL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE To: ...... Bank/Building Society, • 10% Discount At BBs - The In-Store Coffee Shop • Optional Bus Tour of Pendle Heritage Sites Branch Code: ...... SKIPTON dep. 09.30, return at 18.45 Full Address: Keighley dep. 09.43, return at 18.35 Bingley dep. 09.47, return at 18.29 ...... Shipley dep. 09.52, return at 18.24 ...... Leeds dep. 10.13, return at 18.07 Bradford Int. dep. 10.32, return at 17.51 Account Name: Halifax dep. 10.45, return at 17.37 ...... Hebden Bridge dep. 10.59, return at 17.24 Arrive COLNE: 12.07, DEPART: 16.30 Account No: ...... Refreshment facilities on board Pay To: Yorkshire Bank plc, Market Street, FARES FROM ALL STATIONS: £17.50 Colne BB8 0HT For the Account of: SELRAP: (£12.00 under 16s, regret no other reductions) Branch Code: 05 – 03 - 83 Account No: Booking form can be printed from SELRAP’s 34689554 The Sum of: ...... On the website: www.selrap.org.uk ..... or please send same date each year Dated: ...... an SAE & cheque payable to SELRAP to: Derek Jennings, 3 Hamilton Road, Barrowford, Lancs, BB8 9DE Tel: 01282 690411 Signature: ...... Please specify if you want to take the bus tour. Please return to: SELRAP Membership Regret, no seat reservations possible. Secretary Derek Jennings, 3 Hamilton Rd, FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Carr Hall, Barrowford, Lancs BB9 6DE At the time of going to press, SELRAP will be See SELRAP’s website: www.selrap.org.uk for represented at the following public events: more information on progress towards the November15/16th: Pendle Forest Model Railway restoration of rails between Skipton and Colne. Exhibition No internet at home? Then AND REMEMBER: Official opening of Nelson’s new Bus/Rail access our website at your Interchange. Date TBA. See local press. local library (free) ..... or If you only do maybe via a friend or relative. what you’ve always December 7th: Christmas Shoppers’ Special Train done ..... With 20,000 hits per month (see above). already, SELRAP’s website has You’ll only get what January 18th: Blackburn & Darwen Model Railway got to be worth a look! you’ve always had. Exhibition. Makes you think! CravenRail is edited by: February 5-7th: Pendle Beer Festival, Colne. Andy Shackleton We also hold open meetings for members and new Higher Park Farm supporters. See below for details. Come along and learn about what SELRAP is doing, and how Kelbrook Road you can get involved in our exciting venture. Barnoldswick Lancs OPEN COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2009 BB18 5TD ● Mon. 12th Jan. @ 7.00pm: St. Stephen’s Tel: 01282 814358 School, Gargrave Road, Skipton. e mail: [email protected] ● Mon. 9th March @ 7.00pm: NB. also AGM: If there are issues you wish to raise, or draw to Lesser Municipal Hall, Albert Road, Colne. the attention of the Executive Committee, please ● Mon. 11th May @ 7.00pm: Rainhall Centre, make use of the contact details above. Rainhall Road, Barnoldswick.