MEMBERS of Connect Bude and OkeRail attended the full meeting of Holsworthy Town Council on Wednesday, February 13, to encourage a representative of the council to join their Forum.

Connect Bude chairman Richard Wolfenden Brown, treasurer and membership secretary Mike Moores and OkeRail vice chairman Dr Michael Ireland introduced themselves to the councillors and gave a brief outline of what they hoped to achieve.

Starting proceedings, Mr Wolfenden Brown said: “We want to encourage you to see the people we represent, not just three old men — the same way we look at you as representatives of the wider population of Holsworthy not just a council.

“Our aim today is to garner support from you. We want to find one or even two key councillors who want to get involved with the Bude rail reinstatement group. Sure there are people who will say ‘not in our lifetime’ but we are keen. In 1973 when Lord Stanhope was here and built the canal there were many who said ‘not in my lifetime’ — these things don’t just happen overnight!”

Mr Wolfenden Brown explained the whole initiative began with a play: “I am heavily involved with theatre in Bude, so it all began with a play. During the play we asked the audience, those who wanted to, to tick a box, ‘yes’ or ‘no’, do you want to see the railway line come back? 100% ticked yes. A meeting was then held in Bude with 150 people in attendance. It was clear there was interest amongst the people to see a return of the railway. And then, when the special trains from Okehampton were arranged, one-third of the passengers on the Stratford train were from Holsworthy and Bude. There is a keen following in this area.”

Something the Forum is keen to look into, Mr Wolfenden Brown said, was the feasibility of a bus link from Okehampton to Holsworthy and further down the line a track to a ‘Holsworthy Parkway Station’. It is hoped this could be the first steps to bringing a link back to Bude. Mr Wolfenden Brown added: “We have our eye on the prize to reopen the line to Bude, it won’t happen next week but if we don’t try we won’t get it.”

Dr Ireland then spoke, giving a brief introduction to OkeRail and its involvement. He said: “Okerail is a Forum representing different stakeholder’s interests including town and parish councils. I am pretty sure Holsworthy isn’t represented so it would be good to see a councillor come along. It would be a good way for you to have your input in the debate then report back to the council. I have often felt Holsworthy is the missing link, there has been tremendous enthusiasm from Bude.”

He added: “Reflecting on what Richard said, it isn’t impossible. I was saying to one of your younger councillors earlier, it won’t be in my lifetime but it is important to look to it for future generations.”

He said he didn’t want to ‘paint a rosey picture’ because it won’t be easy but they had already come up with some ideas for a potential route, displayed on a hand out given to councillors. He said: “There are talks surrounding bus links from here to Okehampton to begin with and geographically a lot of the track bed is still available for the reinstatement of a line. We would encourage you to join Connect Bude and help try to find a solution.”

The rail group representatives were thanked for the information, but mayor Cllr Jon Hutchings said: “Unfortunately we have an election in a short time and it may be a little while after that before we decide. If you don’t hear from us it isn’t a lack of interest we are just waiting to get new members.”

However, Cllr Ken Watson expressed his interest regardless: “I am very interested in this, funnily enough I could have been the ideal candidate for this as my dad was personnel manager for the old Great Western Railway service so I have been interested and following this closely. What I would like to ask is how feasible do you think this coach connection could be?”

Mr Wolfenden Brown said ideally they would prefer to have a railway line but it would be a ‘step in the right direction’.

Mr Moore said: “They did organise a bus link from Bude with a pick up through Holsworthy for the Royal Oke trains and they filled the train so it can be done!”

The mayor then raised his concerns over the potential of a rail track being introduced and the impact that would have on the cycle route the council and others have worked ‘long and hard over many years to bring to the area’.

Dr Ireland assured he did not think the cycle track would be in jeopardy as he believed they should ‘speak with one voice so any railway could be complimentary for the cycle path’ and there would be room for both, adding that they ‘needn’t be conflicting’.

However, Cllr Helen Parker asked: “For four years we have been campaigning for the cycle route to go to Bude. The landowners are the problem. If Devon County Council haven’t been able to make progress what chance do you have?”

Dr Ireland said he believed the rail link would have an economic advantage over the cycle way which may help push it through. He explained, the cycle route is leisure whereas the railway is more economic — better transport links would increase employment and investment in the area. He said with the two combined, leisure and economic, he thought it would make a ‘pretty strong case’.

The mayor concluded that the council would be happy to discuss this at a later date once a new council was confirmed.

Mr Wolfendon Brown jested: “I will leave you some forms so you’ve got no excuse.”