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Site last updated: 21st June 2008. See the change log for details.
The Chief Executive's office writes:
We note with interest your new 'Bridging the Gap' website and wish it
every success. Charnwood Borough Council have supported the activities of
the GCR plc at Loughborough for many years, and see the Gap project as a
worthwhile scheme to re-unite the two currently separate sections of the
Great Central Railway, bringing with it enhanced tourism and employment
potential. To this end, the Borough have protected the line of route in
its Local Plan.
We would like to add our support to the project, and look forward to
watching progress with interest.
(Signed) Brian Hayes, Chief Executive.
(Signed) Councillor Max Hunt, Leader of the Council.
The following is an extract from the 1994 and 1996 Plans -
10.8.4 The section of the former Great Central Railway between Great Central station and the spur off the main line in the vicinity of the Brush works is currently vacant. However it is reserved for the reinstatement of the Loughborough to Ruddington link. It will be necessary to relocate temporary uses along this corridor to enable implementation of the new railway link. (Note that the spur has now been reinstated as part of the GCRN railway - Editor)
10.8.5 POLICY LR/4 Within the area shown on the proposals map, applications for development which might prejudice eventual restoration of the Loughborough-Ruddington link will be refused.
7.78 POLICY TR/14 Planning Permission will not be granted for development on land along the Great Central Railway corridor where this would prejudice its operation as a railway, or its ability to provide additional transport routes and facilities in the future.
7.79 The Great Central Railway presently provides a recreational railway route between Birstall and Loughborough. There is potential to eventually restore the link to the north between Loughborough and Ruddington.
(Readers are directed to the Charnwood Local Plan documents - see the link to them on our Links page - where detailed maps show the protected route of the 'Gap' project)
The Local Plan has recently been updated and we are delighted to have received from the Council in October 2007 these words of support: "Further to our telephone conversation this morning I can confirm that Policy TR/12 of te Borough of Charnwood Local Plan which seeks to safeguard the route of the GCR is one of the policies saved by the Secretary of State and therefore remains part of the development plan."
The Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Mr Keith Beaumont, writes that he is very happy for us to include a comment that the Borough Council continues to support the Great Central Railway's activities, which includes the 'gap' project.
See the link to Rushcliffe Borough Council's website on our links page
