Manchester and Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP) 10th June, 7.30pm, at Humanity House, Matlock Meeting No.5

Attendees: Robin Greenwood, Stephen Chaytow, Mike Hancocks, John Harpur, Janet Miller, Derek Bodey, Jane Taylor, Bill Woolley

Apologies: Jean Todd, Steve Caddy, Peter Stanton, Dave Shaw, Ian Clark, Steve Jones, Robin Lumb, Kirk Martin, Suzanne Pearson, Tina Heathcote

1) Minutes from Meeting No.4 – 18th April 2019 No adjustments requested

2) Actions Arising • Tunnel gauge – Stone trains most likely require W6 gauge, and it was thought that this would allow double track use in the tunnels, potentially without modification ‐ An additional cross Pennine route is highly sought after, per SELRAP project findings, there is simply a lack of capacity, so “The Peaks and Dales” route will be well used. • Websites: updated status: ‐ Railfuture: railuser group site meets initial need, directing to an online summary ‐ FDVL: Digital filing cabinet of minutes, presentations and other documents is also a valuable reference for online searching ‐ James Wyatt – petition site ‐ MEMRAP’s own website – no progress expected until MEMRAP is funded · meeting – June 13th, 2pm Darley Dale waiting room · Publicity actions ‐ deferred till after the Peak Rail meeting · Fund raising work deferred till after incorporation completed and bank account opened

3) Reports from Recent Meetings · SC tabled a schedule of meetings (attached as an appendix), as a record of the work that had been carried out by MEMRAP over the last 2 months. Discussion about: ‐ Other approaches rather than standard heavy rail construction ‐ The meeting welcomed Jane Taylor, representing the Stourbridge rail operator, who offered creative ways of looking at the project differently, including: ‐ Interlocked slab track for reduced cost of construction. Pre‐Metro also commented on the use of Light Rail and Tram as other options ‐ For the new Monsal Trail, the possibility of the replacement as a braided system of routes to cater for the needs of different groups. ‐ It was noted that rerouting of paths in Devon had seen sums of around £2m allocated for the purpose ‐ Care about overstating value of project, due to northbound aggregates and also the Earls sidings with cement trains which cannot be usefully rerouted ‐ It was said that councils are allowed to borrow against the increase in council tax from new dwellings ‐ does want steam to return to the town ‐ MEMRAP advisor, Nick Gallop had stated that once the basic single track structure is in place, it is relatively easy to take out and replace with a better grade ‐ Because there is no knowledge of how much additional freight might be generated, there is considerable doubt about the capability of the single track and passing loops to deal with a public service of any sort. ‐ It was noted that if both HS2 and Heathrow runway 3 were cancelled, this project might become less attractive

4) Meeting with Peak Rail, June 13th, 2pm Darley Dale waiting room · Attendees to be RG, SC, JH, JM · No presentation was being prepared by MEMRAP. The purpose of the meeting will be to: (1) Listen to the Peak Rail proposition (2) Negotiate a suitable jointly agreed outcome

5) Joint Walk on Monsal Trail with the Peak National Park. · It was confirmed that the walk the National Park was scheduled for 19th June, Action: RG to check details with the Park / Tim Nicholson

6) Feasibility Study (Strategic Outline Business Case or SOBC) · LEP (D2N2) had told SC that funding is not available for an SOBC, only build work. · The group agreed that such a cost might be a suitable crowdfunding exercise.

7) Incorporation of MEMRAP · Companies House has changed the website for registration of CIC again (since the last meeting), adding a challenge to agree what is outstanding, to complete the incorporation · Directors re‐confirmed as RG (subject to articles), JH and SC. Action SC: Mike Rose to be asked on return from holiday if he would like to join the board. · Standard patterns of retiring by rotation were preferred, with 2 x 3 year terms of office · It is our wish to use consensus decision-making, in the model rules there is reference to vote-taking, which we prefer not to do. RG to speak with the regulator to clarify and amend · Humanity House articles used as the reference set of documents · Choice of small versus large membership. It was decided that the large membership, to elect directors would be the preferred route to go · Action: RG to speak with the regulator to check the approach will work, · Action: RG to liaise with JM to ensure that this agrees with her understanding – · Action: SC then to complete incorporation of CIC, using new online application · Action: SC ‐ After incorporation, meeting agreed to open bank account with Triodos · Action: SC to seek funding, either via CVS or Foundation

8) No AOB: SC wishes to note that HMRC relented and agreed that no tax return was due at this time

9) Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday 3rd July, Cheshire Cheese, Buxton at the later time of 7.30pm Two month summary of Activity by MEMRAP

April 5th SC presented to Nigel Mills (Amber Valley MP) April 10th Peak Rail meeting – cancelled April 14th Cheedale Walk (Monsal Trail) JM and RG April 16th FDVL – quarterly update in April 18th MEMRAP meeting – Buxton April 24th Letter sent by Sir Patrick McLoughlin ( MP) to RG May 6th Railfuture hosted webpage for MEMRAP launched contact: Lloyd Butler http://www.railusergroups.net/MEMRAP/index.htm May 8th MEMRAP Vision statement agreed (filed on FDVL site) May 9th Press release agreed with Midlands Development Conference May 11th Presentation to Railfuture East Midlands branch (contact: Steve Jones, secretary) May 13th Call scheduled with Barney temple (rail construction provider) ‐ see link: https://rhomberg‐sersa.com/en/home/ May 16th Midland Development Conference slides submitted to organiser May 17th Meeting with Tom Goshawk (D2N2 – LEP for local area) May 18th Networking at Railfuture AGM in Cardiff (Contact: Chris Page – chair) May 22nd Pre‐conference dinner in Coventry (Networking with Midlands Connect, Maria Machancoses and Transport for the East Midlands, Andrew Pritchard) May 23rd Midland Development Conference: Presentation and networking: https://www.built‐environment‐networking.com/event/midlands‐development‐conference/ May 24th Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) – preparatory meeting for the SOBC study at Mott MacDonald supported by Mike Rose (Mike to join MEMRAP actively from July meeting) May 24th Derbyshire CC (Chris Hegarty) writes to fix June meeting with SC / Mike Rose – MM Contacts: Jon Crockett and Roy Chapman (Director, East Lancashire Railway) May 28th Ongoing phone discussions with Costain, re MEMRAP – contact: David Owens May 29th Phone call with Nick Gallop (rail consultant) to update and validate progress May 29th LEP says funding is not available from them for the SOBC, only the build phase June 3rd funding discussions with Amber Valley CVS June 4th Update with Jonathan Cooper (rail consultant) – to understand more of the private siding approach for extension of Peak Rail operations into the National Park. June 10th MEMRAP meeting in Matlock June 11th … or very soon after, MEMRAP incorporation papers filed at Companies House. June 13th MEMRAP meeting with Peak Rail (Paul Tomlinson and Martin Gadsby) June 19th MEMRAP and National Park Authority – Monsal Trail (Tim Nicholson) June 19th Peak Rail – open meeting at Buxton Campus (Derby University) 7pm for 7.30pm June 21st Derbyshire County Council (Chris Hegarty, Alastair Morley) June 22nd Peak Rail – Shareholder AGM July 10th Derwent Valley Trust – MEMRAP Presentation (Contact: Derek Latham) July 16th FDVL CRP – Quarterly update in Derby July 18th High Peak & Hope Valley CRP – Introductory MEMRAP presentation with Mike Rose July TBA MEMRAP July meeting July TBA MEMRAP progress and strategy day to be planned.