Banbury North & South Signal Boxes

Feasibility Report

March 2016 Revision C

Document Control

Revision Record

Rev Originator Reviewer Approved Comments

A Mark Rob Kinchin- Nathan -- Cockerill Smith Bignell

B Mark Rob Kinchin- Nathan Steering Group comments included Cockerill Smith Bignell

C Rob Mark Nathan Initial stakeholder comments Kinchin- Cockerill Bignell included Smith

Revision Approved

Original issue Name Date Signature

Originator Rob Kinchin-Smith

Reviewer Mark Cockerill

Approved for issue Nathan Bignell

Approved for issue Steve Molloy

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Distribution List

Name Role Organisation Mark Bennett Sponsor LNW Network Rail Mark Recchia Town Clerk Banbury Town Council Rose Todd Conservation Officer Cherwell District Council Simon Townsend Director Banbury Museum Deborah Hayter Chairman Banbury Historical Society

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Contents 1. Introduction 2. Mission 3. Project Objectives 4. Background 5. Organisation 6. Constraints 7. Options 8. Project Scope of Works 9. Consents 10. Stakeholders 11. Programme 12. HSEQ 13. Project Finance 14. Risk Management 15. Assumptions 16. Exclusions 17. Summary

Appendices

A. Background B. Old Photos C. Photo’s of North Box D. Letters of support E. Option 3a and 3b concepts F. Programme summary

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1. Introduction

The purpose of this document is to outline the aspirations and proposals of Project Crossover regarding Banbury North and South Signal Boxes.

This document intends to:

 Defines the vision and objectives of the project  Summarise the project scope and the options considered  Indicate the constraints upon the project including the consents required  Identify the key stakeholders  Advise the programme milestones  Indicate the financial arrangements proposed

The report has been structured to lend itself to the development of a Project Management Plan during the Single Option Development stage.

The working title of ‘Project Crossover’ has been assigned to signify: 1) the proposed change of use for the Banbury North Signal Box and 2) Banbury’s role as a historic transportation crossing and meeting point.

2. Mission

Project Crossover’s mission is to conserve and sustain Banbury’s North Box, semaphore signals sample and artefacts from the South Box as elements of Banbury’s built and industrial heritage and to make best use of the heritage of mechanical signalling to explain railway history, railway signalling, Banbury’s historic transport links, modern railways and the dangers of railway trespass.

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3. Project Objectives

The Objectives for Project Crossover are:

3.1 Banbury South Signal Box and Signalling Equipment

 Support NR in recording Banbury South Signal Box for prosperity, including a video of the Box in use and its operational relationship to North Box  Support the recovery of artefacts for retention locally (e.g. semaphore signals in local open spaces, materials for a public art-work / sculpture, museum display)  Enable the recovery of materials for other heritage projects (e.g. Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Gloucester Warwickshire Railway, Severn Valley Railway, Ironbridge Railway Trust and The Shillingstone Railway Project)  Auction of artefacts to part-fund North Box

3.2 Banbury North Signal Box

 Ensure safety of visitors, volunteers and rail industry workers at all times  Retain Signal Box in-situ  Replicate the St Albans Signal Box success in creating a viable and sustainable ‘working’ museum bringing railway and signal history to the public and educating younger members of our community on o Safety on the railway and the dangers of trespass o Modern railway operation o Signalling principles and levers and bells interaction o Banbury’s railway history o Support the national promotion of STEM  Establish a Charitable Trust to obtain grant funding and donations with the aspiration to reduce, if not resolve, financial liability for the box maintenance on the rail industry purse  Attract rail safety-trained personnel to assist with the works to open the Box to the public and to attract volunteers, in particular past or current signallers, to interpret the box as an educational resource, to escort pre-organised parties to/from the Box, to provide hands-on demonstrations, to maintain the Box as far as is practicable, operate the Charitable Trust and promote the facility  Extend the existing list of heritage assets and facilities in the town (e.g. Banbury Museum, Tooleys Boat Yard)  Develop a programme of enhancements for display in the Box so there is always something new for visitors to see

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 Maintain dialogue with key stakeholders as other rail enhancement works (station reconstruction / electrification) and or Bridge Street overbridge works are scheduled, to explore direct access possibilities

4. Background

4.1 Banbury

A brief summary of the background of Banbury is provided below, with a more detailed account provided in Appendix A.

Banbury is a 1,500-year-old market town, located at a historic crossing point on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. It is located close to the geographical centre of England, 64 miles (103 km) northwest of London and 38 miles (61 km) southeast of Birmingham. Banbury has long prospered from its central location, acting as a meeting point and marketplace for a wide area.

In the 1840s Banbury found itself at the centre of national railway politics, with Brunel and Robert Stephenson coming to town to promote rival broad and narrow gauge schemes to gain control of the south Midlands and access to Birmingham and the Black Country. Brunel’s Great Western won the territorial battle and thus the engineer of the railway we now see passing through the town.

Banbury became an important railway junction, with through routes to London the south, south-east and east. The completion of brand-new high-speed routes to the East Midlands and London (Chiltern line) completed the town’s main-line links.

These links made Banbury one of the most important locations in the entire rail network in Britain. With its position at the meeting point for trains from the east and west Midlands 7 | P a g e

heading for the south coast ports, it became a freight junction of the highest importance. Major train-marshalling and locomotive servicing facilities were constructed to match its nodal status. This junction was of the very highest strategic importance during both World Wars, being the meeting point for heavy troop and freight traffic from the East and West Midland (and all points north) to the south coast ports.

Because of its central location on the railway network and strategic location, Banbury was chosen for the location of an important munitions factory in the First World War. As peace returned, its location between the traditional centres of heavy industry in the midlands and the growing consumer industries of the South and South-East resulted in Banbury being chosen as the location for the largest aluminium rolling mills in the UK and Europe’s largest livestock market.

Banbury town retains a strong connection with its past with local historical and civic societies promoting the town through its heritage, celebrating the Cross, ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ nursery rhyme and Civil War heritage, as well as the town’s importance as a historic national crossroads.

4.2 Banbury Signal Boxes

Originally Banbury was home to six Signal Boxes. Banbury Merton Street Signal Box and the large Banbury Junction Signal Box were removed many years ago, as a consequence of the Beeching cuts and losses of the radial routes they served.

Banbury station is now served by the surviving two Signal Boxes, namely Banbury North and Banbury South, operating a combination of semaphore signals and illuminated coloured aspect signals. The Signal Boxes are located on the Didcot and Chester Line (DCL) at 86.0044 (South box) and 86.0572 (North box) miles respectively.

The surviving North and South signal boxes are both medium-sized GWR Type 7 boxes, constructed of brick in 1899 and largely unaltered, with exception of war time ground floor windows being bricked up. Refurbishment work to Banbury South Box in relatively recent years has been less sympathetic than that undertaken to the North Box, but none the less it contains much of the original internal equipment (levers, bells and display equipment) and is understood to include some rare items. Banbury North Box has been exceptionally well cared for and maintained. With its GWR Dark and Light Stone colour-scheme and immaculate interior, it is reputed to be one of the very best kept on the modern railway.

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Photographs of Banbury North Signal Box are provided in Appendix C.

Banbury is currently subject to a £76m major upgrade project being undertaken by Network Rail. This will modernise signalling equipment, transfer control to the West Midlands Rail Operating Centre, make track layout changes and construct a new Chiltern Railways Depot. South Signal Box stands in the way of the proposed Down Loop re-alignment and turnout to the new Depot. Subsequently the South Box is to be demolished.

Banbury North, whilst sitting between the Down main line and the Down Goods Loop, does not interfere with current plans for the major upgrade. Potential demolition by Network Rail is planned to remove the liability of what is currently viewed to be a redundant asset, in line with rail industry guidance. The Project Crossover mission is to develop a new purpose for the Signal Box as an education Centre.

4.3 Motivation

The enthusiasm, passion, dedication and community spirit for Project Crossover to realise the Objectives described above stems from the following diverse motivational factors:

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 Banbury is the official ‘Birthplace of the Railway Preservation Movement’, due to the work of Messrs Trinder & Rolt. Tom Rolt is also regarded as the pioneer of the leisure cruising industry on Britain's inland waterways, with direct links to Banbury’s Tooleys Boatyard, the oldest working dry dock on the canal network and only a stone’s throw away from Banbury North Signal Box

 The Signal Boxes and associated semaphore are amongst the very few survivals of Banbury’s important railway heritage  The important story of Banbury’s railways, particularly during the two World Wars and in connection with the Banbury No.9 National Munitions Factory  Feedback of visitor experiences from other preserved signal box displays

‘’People - especially kids - seem to love pretending to be a signalman, having a go at pulling a lever or tapping out a bell code and seeing the effect on the virtual trains… … who have never set

foot in a signal box before, or perhaps didn't really know what one is or that they still exist!’’

Quote from Glennfinnan signal box

 Banbury North Signal Box has been refurbished sympathetically, with original windows, window bars, chimney, stove and equipment all surviving intact  The highway and rail nodal interchange (Crossover) of the area  The Signal Box architecture is unique locally  Local popularity, support and interest in the heritage of Banbury  A rail heritage education centre would be complementary to existing town attractions and local events, including Tooleys Boatyard, Banbury Museum, Canal Day and the Banbury & District Show  Significant investment in housing, industry and retail in Banbury is resulting in a substantial loss of heritage (cattle market (once the largest in Europe), iron ore mining, munitions factory, aluminium factory, etc)

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 Rail industry rationalisation has removed the original Banbury engine sheds, original station buildings, Merton Street station, 4 No. Signal Boxes and the ‘Hump yard’. A selection of photographs of some of these is located at Appendix B.

 Steam specials still pass and often stop for water at Banbury  The North Box does not need to be demolished (subject to structural survey) and can offer more for years to come if it can adapt to a sustainable new use  ‘Success has many Fathers’, so support for the Trust will grow with increasing awareness of its mission and objectives  Pride of the signallers who have cherished and maintained North and South Signal Boxes to their current high standards  A new rail/engineering education centre can locally contribute to the nationwide Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) promotion  Network Rail has previously indicated that Boxes could be adopted by the community.

Banbury Town Council, Cherwell District Council, Banbury Museum, Banbury Civic Society and the Banbury Historical Society are supportive of the Project Crossover aspirations to preserve the North Box in-situ. Copies of the supportive letters received to date are provided in Appendix D.

5. Organisation

A Steering Group has been established for Project Crossover. This currently consists of a Historic Building Consultant, a Barrister, a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and independent Project Management Practitioner with extensive rail experience.

The Steering Group has the support of a growing group of willing volunteers, most from within the railway or heritage railway industries as described further below.

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It is proposed to establish a Private Limited Company, by guarantee without share capital (for Museum activities and operation of historical sites and buildings), underpinned by a Charitable Trust.

The Charitable Trust will be a Building Preservation Trust, with the objectives:

1) To secure for the benefit of the public, the preservation, restoration, use and maintenance of Banbury North Signal Box and the equipment contained therein, and 2) To use the signal box and equipment as a working museum for educational purposes

It is currently envisaged that Directors of the Limited Company will also be Trustees of the Charity.

The Charitable Status will be used to seek funding, take advantage of Gift Aid and re-invest surplus generated into the up keep of the Box and improving the visitor experience.

In the short time of conducting this feasibility study a number of volunteers have come forward, to support the preservation of the North Box and to assist with its maintenance and operation as a rail heritage education centre.

Volunteers pledging active support to the group have come forward from:

 Train Operating Companies (station staff and drivers)  Network Rail o MOM o Control, Command and Signalling specialist (Heritage railway volunteer) o Senior Engineer, Safety, Technical & Engineering Control, Command & Signalling o Signal Project Engineer o Local maintenance and fault engineers  A Rail approved contractor New Works Tester (Ex London Underground signal maintenance and fault find engineer)  Retired British Rail S&T Technician with years of experience of the Banbury Boxes  Retired 'Bobbies’  Other museum's/saved Signal Boxes  Heritage railway enthusiasts and volunteers on private heritage rail lines (South Devon Railway, Mid Hants, Swanage Railway, Epping Signal Cabin Project, Cromer Signalbox, Wymondham, Ironbridge Railway Trust and Spooner Row relocation  Local Community

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Volunteers have shown interest in supporting the workstream associated with works up to opening, operating and maintaining.

“I stress that none of this downplays the importance of signalling and railway history and the great joy it brings to employees, former employees and enthusiasts of railways”

Quote from St Albans South Signal Box Trust

The volunteers not only bring a wealth of knowledge, but rail industry qualifications including PTS, IWA, and COSS. These are clearly invaluable for preparing and ensuring Safe Systems of Work.

The Safety Critical nature of the work undertaken by some volunteers in their day to day work is completely respected and the use of said qualifications is understood to be only available if not ‘hidden’ from formal Network Rail reported hours of work and compromising industry rest periods.

Retired signallers will be invaluable for composing and interpreting ‘the story’ to be delivered to visitors, bringing the experience alive with tales of bygone days.

6. Constraints

The following constraints have been identified on the project:

 Operational rail environment  Access currently required through Banbury station  Operational lines to either side of the North Signal Box  Access to Interlocking frames from ground floor door to the north of the North Signal Box  Demolition programme for North & South Signal Boxes  Access requirements to conduct the proposed works and maintenance  Funding availability and timescales

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7. Options

The following options have been considered for Banbury North Signal Box:

Option Description Consideration 1 Re-location of entire Signal Box structure and Rejected on financial grounds contents to land adjacent to Banbury station 2 Retention in-situ by purchase of Signal Box and Rejected due to land-locked creation of direct access elevated walkway from nature of site, improbability of Bridge Street over bridge land disposal by Network Rail and on financial grounds 3 Retention in-situ with lease agreement in place with Network Rail (with sub options) 3a Retention in-situ with creation of direct access Rejected in the short term due elevated walkway from Bridge Street to programme, funding and uncertainty of future bridge works 3b Retention in-situ with access permitted via Option selected accepting Banbury station and creation of safe visitor restriction on organised authorised walking route escorted visitor parties only

Images of Options 3a and 3b are contained in Appendix E.

8. Project Scope of Works

The high level scope of work for the project is summarised as:

8.1 Banbury South Signal Box

 Assist Network Rail’s recording of the South Signal Box for prosperity  Identify artefacts available for salvage including Box equipment and Semaphore related items  Remove items for both retention and auction to fund North Box scope of work

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8.2 Banbury North Signal Box

 Prepare a clear statement of the Trust’s approach to conserving and maintaining the historic fabric and fittings of the Box to assist with charitable status and funding  Installation of 1.2m high Paladin fence running along the path of the existing Signal Box authorised walking route (See Appendix E) to ensure safe passage of visitors to the North Box and lockable entrance gate to reduce trespass risk  Decorate walking route face of lineman’s brick single storey building between the North Signal Box and bridge Street overbridge in GWR Light and Dark Stone colours  Prepare, modify and erect education display equipment. Exact scope yet to be determined for opening and for programme of progressive enhancement of experience

The education centre display could include the following:

 Tales of a ‘Bobbie’ (railway signallers)  Operable leavers with dummy weights to simulate effort required  Ringing out of bell codes  Free standing Semaphore head in Signal Box or adjacent Spiceball park  Video of box operation and interaction with the South Signal Box  Model display of interlocking mechanism, in lieu of available safe access to the Signal Box ground floor  Section of ‘OO’ gauge model railway of Banbury North Signal Box with points and Semaphore to demonstrate relationship  Railway operation in general  Photo displays of railway history and Banbury’s rail past. Example photo’s provided in Appendix B  Software simulation (as demonstrated at Listed Glenfinnan signal box, with pledge to gift the software already received) particularly illustrating the interrelationship between North and South Boxes and North and former Banbury Junction Signal Boxes

Determination of what will be included at opening and what will be included as part of a programme of enhancements will be determined during GRIP stage 4

Details of activities envisaged at this stage are covered at high level under the Programme section at Item 11.

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9. Consents

The consents identified for the project are indicated below:

 Full Local Authority consents to be investigated, but allowance has been made in the programme for an application to the Local Authority for change of use.  Network Rail Landlord Consent for new walkway fence and possibly the setting up of visitor display. It is assumed under a tenancy agreement that the proposed Trust will be authorised to submit this directly to Network Rail via the on-line application process  Chiltern Railways for access through the station, as an extension of what is undertaken already for school parties. Pre-arranged visitors will wear Hi Viz ‘Signal Box visitor’ vests and be escorted from a congregation point to the Signal Box and back after the visit. The escort will be a Signal Box volunteer. A safe system of work will be prepared and agreed with Chiltern Railways to satisfy their Safety Case, minimise as far as is practicable assistance required by station staff regarding inductions and signing in.

All consents will be obtained during GRIPS Stage 4; Single Option Development

10. Stakeholders

The following stakeholders have been identified:

 Network Rail  Chiltern Railways  Banbury Town Council  Cherwell District Council  Oxfordshire County Council  Banbury Civic Society  Banbury Community Action Group (potential public open space to accommodate Semaphore signal)  Board of Directors and Trustees  Local people  Railway staff  Retired railway staff  Railway enthusiasts  Model railway hobbyists  St Albans Signal Box Trust  Glennfinnan station Museum

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 Tooleys boat yard; Banbury  Banbury Museum  Banbury Historical Society  Banbury Historians  Local Businesses  Banbury Railway Society  Signalling Record Society  Visitors (Target education audience)  Heritage Groups  NR approved suppliers  Heritage groups  Funding parties  Rail Safety & Standards Board  British Transport Police  Local media  Rail publications

The target audience to visit the Box for educational purposes are

 Schools  Colleges  Local groups o Scouts o WI o Religious o Sports o Transport o Arts o History  Railway societies

St Albans Signal Box Trust attracts visitors from as far away as 40 miles. The diagram below indicates the geographical catchment of towns in a 25 mile radius of Banbury.

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Parties identified that may assist in funding the in initial scope of work, enhanced Signal Box display and future dedicated elevated walkway from Bridge Street (either at opening or as part of programme of enhancements) include:

 Local Authority  Local Businesses  National Lottery  Institution of Railway Signalling Engineers  Institution of Railway Operators  STEM Works  Rail Safety & Standards Board

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11. Programme:

A feasibility stage programme has been constructed for the Signal Box works. Whilst a summary of the programme is included in Appendix F, the high level programme for is:

GRIP Stage Forecast completion Pre-feasibility & Output selection 19-Apr-16 Single Option development 28-Sep-16 Detailed Design 06-Dec -16 Construction, test & commission 25-Jan-17 North Box available for visitors 26-Jan-17

A summary of the activities proposed to be undertaken under each GRIP stage is indicated below:

GRIP Stage 1- 3 (Output definition, pre-feasibility & option selection)  Conclude feasibility study  Agree Heads of Terms with stakeholders  Obtain H&S related information from NR

GRIP Stage 4 (Single Option Development - Outline Design)  Establish Ltd Company & Trust  Log North & South box contents  Consider education centre displays at opening  Determine all consents required  Commence funding  Grow support group and allocate roles  Agree access strategy for fence works  Agree maintenance regime and access strategy with NR Asset Manager  Procure services required  Conduct surveys and obtain reports  Prepare Outline design drawings  Obtain Consents  Procure services required for GRIP Stage 5

GRIP Stage 5 (Detailed Design)  Prepare Detailed Design drawings for installation purposes  Procure fence materials and installation  Prepare H&S documentation  Progress lease to signature  Agree H&S paperwork with CRCL regarding access  Prepare advertising & promotion materials

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 Procure services required for GRIP Stage 6  Prepare display equipment (off site)

GRIP Stage 6 (Construction test & commission)  South Box components removed and auctioned  Volunteer rehearsals (off and on site)  Purchase items required for opening  Commence advertising & promotion  Install safe access fence  Paint pre-fabricated building face  Install/modify display equipment (on site)

GRIP Stage 7 & 8 (Scheme hand back & project close-out)  North Box open to visitors

12. HSEQ

Safety is paramount and will remain at the forefront of the investigation, planning and implementation stages for all associated works and visits with regard to volunteers, stakeholder staff, rail passengers and visitors.

Rail-Safety awareness is a key part of the educational role proposed for the North Box. Guidance for this will be sought and taken from the Rail Safety and Standards Board and the British Transport Police. Proposed materials to be delivered will be shared with stakeholders for comment and endorsement of currency and best practice.

Competence of all volunteers will be assessed by the Trust and records retained of relevant qualifications, including currency to carry out agreed tasks.

Services required will be competitively procured from Link-Up approved supply chain as and where applicable.

For the delivery of the works, principally walkway fence installation, Risk Assessments will be undertaken and safe systems of work prepared and captured through Work Package Plans and Task Briefings prior to any work being undertaken. The Trust will work with key stakeholders in the preparation and acceptance of these and the provision of safe access to the work site.

Retention of the North Box in-situ is at the heart of the aspirations regarding the built environment.

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From an environmental perspective nothing is envisaged to be problematic with the delivery of the works.

The rail environment will be respected at all times.

Quality procedures for the implementation of the proposed works and delivery of education at the box will be developed throughout the GRIP stages pertinent to the forecast activities and programme.

13. Project Finance

A Business case has been prepared for Project Crossover, modelling the costs and funding stream through to opening of the education centre and a typical year of operation. As noted before, the St Albans Trust’s successful model is being used as a role model, excluding the significant funding required to refurbish St Albans South Box.

The high level cost forecast and projected funding and income stream are tabulated below:

Costs to opening:

Description Forecast (£) Establishment 100 Services 4,700 Network Rail 6,000 Fence including installation 5,000 Display costs 1,700 Contingency (20%) 3,500 Total 21,000

Funding to opening:

Source Target (£) Trustee loans 2,000 Membership 2,000 Crowd Funding 3,000 Grant Funding 10,000 Sponsorship 3,000 Auction of South Box items 2,000 Total 22,000

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Yearly operating costs:

Description Forecast (£) Insurance 1,200 Building Works accrual 2,400 Promotion 550 Utilities 240 Loan repayment 800 Operating costs 340 Contingency (20%) 470 Total 6,000

Yearly income:

Source Target (£) Membership 2,000 Crowd Funding 450 Sponsorship 1,200 Special Events 720 Gifts & donations 3,000 Merchandise sales 630 Total 8,000

The task of transferring liability for the North Box from Network Rail to a tenant is understood to be a challenge. It is hoped the experience from St Albans, financial forecasts above and contents of this Feasibility Report is sufficient for Network Rail to enter into meaningful dialogue with the proposed Trust.

Allowance has been made for comprehensive insurance expected to cover fire, theft, vandalism, weather damage, Public Liability and Employee (trustees and volunteers) Liability as required by a tenant. It is suggested the North Box will be covered by Network Rail as Landlord. Any saving that would arise by the removal of a Signal Box amongst a significant property portfolio being insured is considered to be small. Should contribution to the insurance be required, this could be provided through any resultant rental agreement.

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14. Risk Management

At this early stage 40 No. risks have been identified and considered. Whilst not yet quantified in terms of likelihood and severity, the top risks are considered to be as follows:

Number Description 1 H&S issues of working around operational railway 2 Funding and cash flow 3 Theft & vandalism 4 Trespass 5 Scope creep 6 Access to the railway for fence works and maintenance under Line Blockages during White Periods and level of protection required 7 Uptake, volunteers and funding, visitors 8 More onerous Approval in Principle required than Landlord Consent 9 Buried Services in walkway route 10 Suitability of existing Signallers walkway

Ahead of determining the mitigations for these risks, allowance has been considered for the consequence of these risks coming to fruition in the programme durations and cost modelling.

During GRIP stage 4, a Risk Register will be prepared based on the scope of work and objectives described in this document. The register will capture:

 the risks  forecast probability  forecast severity  mitigations proposed  forecast probability with mitigation plan implemented  forecast severity with mitigation plan implemented  risk custodian

The Risk Register preparation, update and reporting will be the responsibility of the Directors/Trustees. The Risk Register will be reviewed and updated on a monthly basis to capture the risks closed, new mitigations identified and new risks, with the intent of preventing risk realisation and reducing risks to as low as reasonably possible.

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15. Assumptions

The following assumptions have been made in conducting this feasibility study:

 Network Rail will not demolish the North Signal Box whilst the potential Trust believes an in-situ retention of the Box can be developed to be sustainable, reducing the financial liability on Network Rail, with the benefits that retaining the Box can have, as indicated in this report  Network Rail will support the removal of identified artefacts from the South Signal Box and with the disposal from Network Rail of assets for the purposes described in this feasibility report  That there will be a window of opportunity to remove artefacts from the South Signal Box  Network Rail sub-contractor(s) will oblige with the removal of Semaphore signal(s) in good condition and placing in a position of safety  Network Rail will support the change in use of the North Signal Box for educational purposes and be prepared to negotiate a rental agreement with an established Trust inclusive of peppercorn rent, utilities bill contribution and determined maintenance requirements  That a positive Structural Survey Report for the North Signal Box will be obtained  That the septic tank connection to Banbury North Signal Box will be capped and grouted by Network Rail  That the Lineman’s and Relay Room buildings adjacent to Banbury North Signal Box will be retained  That Chiltern Railways will support the initiative and accept access via the station  That key stakeholders will consent to positive media coverage of the partnership, to realise the education centre aspirations  That no Signal Sighting will be required for the proposed installation of a fence along the walkway  That planned and reactive works can be organised to interface with Network Rail scheduled works in the area.

16. Exclusions

The following works are considered not to be required for the change in the use of the North Signal Box:  Structural modifications to the Signal Box  Modifications to any utilities  Improvement to current ‘Bobbie’s walkway’ surface  Lighting along visitor walkway  Asbestos removal, as that indicated on ARMS will not be disturbed.

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17. Summary

To summarise:

 Project Crossover’s mission seeks to conserve and sustain Banbury’s North Box, sample semaphore signals and artefacts from the South Box for educational purposes  A Limited Company and Trust is proposed to manage the ‘conversion’, operation and degree of maintenance  A Steering Group has been established ahead of more formal arrangements being incorporated  The successful St Albans South Signal Box model of attracting funding through to opening and self-sufficiency thereafter is being used as a role model  A volunteer base to support the mission is steadily growing  Funding will be sourced from outside of the rail industry to implement the proposed plans  The aspiration is to reduce the financial liability on Network Rail of the retained North Box  The Steering Group wishes to enter into detailed dialogue with key stakeholders to gain support in progressing the plans indicated in this report.

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Appendix A: Background

Banbury is a 1,500-year-old market town, located at a historic crossing point on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. It is located close to the geographical centre of England, 64 miles (103 km) northwest of London, 38 miles (61 km) southeast of Birmingham, 27 miles (43 km) south of Coventry and 21 miles (34 km) north northwest of Oxford.

Banbury has long prospered from its central location, acting as a meeting point and marketplace for a wide area. At least as far back as the Iron Age it stood at the junction of two ancient roads: Salt Way (used for the transportation of salt from Cheshire) and Banbury Lane, which runs from Northampton to the Fosse Way at Stow-on-the-Wold.

The market town prospered under the patronage of Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln Banbury, who built a castle in 1135AD on the north side of the Market Place. With its central location serving a large hinterland, Banbury became nationally and internationally noted for its trade in wool, livestock, ale and Banbury cheese.

Over the centuries the castle was extended and rebuilt, becoming one of the strongest in the Kingdom and one of the earliest ‘concentric’ castles. The confiscation of church lands under Henry VIII saw Banbury develop as a town noted for its lack of feudal overlordship, independence of mind and its puritan zeal. It thus found itself at the epicentre of the English Civil War, with its castle under almost permanent siege, in 1644-45 and again in 1646. The one constant throughout the Tudor and Stuart periods was its market, served by a series of radial drove roads for livestock driven on the hoof from as far away as Wales.

The town’s status as a national entrepot was strengthened again in 1778, with the arrival of the Oxford Canal from Coventry, stimulating the town’s industrial and mercantile growth, with access to cheap coal from the midlands and a wide agricultural hinterland to feed the growing populations of Coventry, Birmingham and the Black Country. The failure to complete the Banbury – Oxford section of the canal for a further 12 years made Banbury an important transhipment point, all goods from the Midlands heading south to London and the south coast ports having to be transferred to road wagons at Banbury. Banbury thus became the centre of a series of radiating turnpike roads, with a suite of inns serving the coaching trade and pubs serving local carriers carts and an ever-growing market trade.

In the 1840s Banbury found itself at the centre of national railway politics, with Brunel and Robert Stephenson coming to town to promote rival broad- and narrow-gauge schemes to gain control of the south Midlands and access to Birmingham and the Black Country. Brunel’s Great Western won the territorial battle, but their concession to lay a third rail to accommodate narrow-gauge traffic spelled the beginning of the end for Brunel’s broad gauge. It is, nevertheless, a key feature of Banbury’s railway history, and one perhaps not fully celebrated, that Brunel himself was the engineer of the railway we now see passing through the town. 26 | P a g e

Banbury became an important railway junction, with through routes to London Paddington, the south, south-east and east (all 1850-51), Birmingham Snow Hill, Wolverhampton and the north-west (1854) and south-west (1881). The completion of brand-new high-speed routes to the East Midlands (1899) and London (1910 – the ‘Bicester Cut-Off’ or today’s Chiltern line) completed the town’s main-line links, with the picture being complete in 1918 with a double-track mineral branch laid to tap huge ironstone reserves west of the town.

These links made Banbury one of the most important locations in the entire rail network in Britain, not only served by expresses from London Paddington to Birmingham, Birkenhead, Aberystwyth and North Wales, but also served by cross-country trains such as the Aberdeen to Penzance Express, the Ports to Ports Express (Newcastle - South Wales), Newcastle - Bournemouth, Newcastle - Southampton, Manchester / Birkenhead – Bournemouth and a York - Swindon sleeper. Its position at the meeting point for trains from the east and west Midlands heading for the south coast ports made it a freight junction of the highest importance, with major train-marshalling and locomotive servicing facilities to match its nodal status. Banbury was a junction of the very highest strategic importance during both World Wars, being the meeting point for heavy troop and freight traffic from the East and West Midland (and all points north) to the south coast ports.

Because of its central location on the railway network and strategic location, Banbury was chosen for the location of an important munitions factory in the First World War. As peace returned, its location between the traditional centres of heavy industry in the midlands and the growing consumer industries of the South and South-East resulted in Banbury being chosen as the location for the largest aluminium rolling mills in the UK and Europe’s largest livestock market (Midland Marts). Had it not been for direct government intervention, Banbury would also have become the home of British Nylon Spinners in the 1930s. Banbury’s importance as a nodal point on the newly-nationalised post-war railway was underlined by its lavishly-built new station with three through platforms and three bay

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platforms, one of only a handful entirely reconstructed prior to the 1955 Modernisation Plan.

Despite Banbury’s post-war growth as a New Town and the arrival of Birds and Lockheed’s Automotive Products in the 1960s, Banbury soon found itself being bypassed for the first time in its history, with rail investment focussed on the West Coast Main Line electrification completed in 1967 and with the completion of the M40 from Oxford to Birmingham delayed for a generation. In the early 1980s the complete closure of the Chiltern lines was proposed, which would have cost Banbury its direct rail connection to London.

The turnaround came with the completion of the M40 in 1991 and the creation of Chiltern Railways in 1996. Banbury has now once again become a central transport hub, with logistics centres mushrooming beside the M40 and frequent express passenger services to most of the UK, as well as intensive block freight services from the Midlands to Southampton. Banbury’s present and future significance as a railway centre is reflected in the investment currently underway in new signalling and depot facilities. Notwithstanding HS2, Banbury’s importance as a major railway node seems assured.

Whilst Banbury has developed with significant new housing, logistics centres and retail parks, the town retains a strong connection with its past. Thus local historical and civic societies promote the town through its heritage, celebrating the Cross, ‘Ride a Cock Horse’ nursery rhyme and Civil War heritage, as well as the town’s importance as a historic national crossroads and market.

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Appendix B: Old Photos

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Appendix C: Photos of North Box

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Appendix D: Letters of support

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Appendix E: Option 3a and 3b concepts

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Appendix F: Programme Summary

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