Delayed heritage railway plan due for decision

Rother Valley Railway wants to re-create the ‘missing link’ which would allow steam trains to travel between Robertsbridge and Bodiam.

But the line would cross the A21, which has lead to opposition from people concerned about additional traffic problems.

Rother District Council officers recommend accepting the proposal, subject to the transport secretary’s approval, ahead of the planning committee meeting on Thursday, March 16.

The application was meant to be discussed at a meeting in February but was taken off the agenda at the eleventh hour and a decision postponed to allow developers more time to gather the relevant information.

An environmental statement and addendum is the only new piece of information from the developers while 11 new oppositional and 27 supportive comments have been made since the withdrawal.

None of this has altered the officer’s opinion but planning committee members will make the final decision.

UPDATE: Divisive heritage railway scheme decision postponed

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