Frosty reception as 80 discuss rail coal
MORE than 80 people braved Arctic conditions and filled Wolsingham Town Hall this week to discuss a coal depot being built on the edge of the town.
Latecomers were left with standing room only as residents met the parish council to voice their opinions on plans to build the depot next to the railway line at the former steelworks.
Residents of Attwood Terrace are particularly concerned as 154 wagons could be passing the backs of their homes every day transporting coal from the open cast mine near Sunniside to the depot.
UK Coal and the Weardale Railway Community Interests Committee (WRCIC) want to transport by rail 1,500 tonnes of coal a day from the depot for the next four years.
UK Coal estimate that using the depot at Wolsingham would result in 4,200 tonnes less CO2 emissions compared to carrying the coal to another station, and 6,700 tonnes less than driving it all the way to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.
UK Coal also said that using the depot would see their wagons passing about 50 homes while transporting the coal to the A1 would see them passing more than 1,000.
British American Railways, who own 75 per cent of the railway, said using the line to ship coal would bring in valuable financial support for the tourism and heritage line.
According to town councillor Vere Shuttleworth the vast majority at the meeting opposed the plans. Cllr Shuttleworth said he felt conned and that the railway had masqueraded as a heritage line while it had secretly always been intended for industrial traffic.
He said: “There was not a single voice in favour. I have said for a long time now that the idea of running the railway as a heritage line was a con, the real reason it was protected was to ship aggregate, coal and waste into and out of the dale.
“There’s nothing wrong with it as a heritage line but it’s what’s going on behind it that causes concern. It’s nice to have a steam train toddling up and down between Wolsingham and Stanhope but is that what it’s really about? I want honesty and openness but I don’t trust that that is what the railway is giving us.
“Why should the people of Wolsingham and especially Attwood Terrace have to suffer this, where is the benefit for us? This big coal depot will destroy the lives of people on Attwood Terrace. “Wolsingham is being used and we certainly don’t think it’s worth having this coal depot to preserve the heritage line. Besides, using it for heritage and industry, the two things don’t seem to sleep well together.”
Steve Raine, managing director of the railway, said the meeting had remained civilised. He said: “It was well chaired and, coupled with our own consultation we held before Christmas, we now have a clear understanding of what the issues are. Certainly there were no new points being made.
“It’s not the end of the railway if it doesn’t go through but it is four years guaranteed and secure income which is always welcome.”
The main issues appear to be noise, dust and traffic concerns.
Mr Raine said: “As usual, people think this will be a huge increase in traffic but according to the council’s highways department there is stacks of capacity on the roads and the extra wagons would make a relatively small difference.
“I also understand that residents on Attwood Terrace have been parking at the entrance which will of course be lost. We are looking to see if we can find somewhere alternative for them to park as we agree that it’s not a good idea if they park their cars on the road.
“As for noise and dust, we shall have mitigation for both and will have to comply to strict regulations.
“We will build a sound deadening fence between the houses and the depot lane and dust controls such as road dampening and sweeping will be happening on a regular basis. Should we be unable to work without producing lots of dust then we will stop.”
Mr Raine said the plans will be submitted within the next three weeks and the council will address the issues as part of its planning procedure.
Mr Raine also said the line could be used for future industry including a proposed gravel works at Harperley and stone from quarries further up the dale. He said that would mean fewer lorries on the dale roads.
Arthur Temple from the Weardale Railway Trust, who own 12.5 per cent of the railway said since it re-opened as a heritage line in 2006, more jobs had been created and the turnover of the dale had risen. He said according to Durham County Council figures, in 2004 the dale made £65.5m, compared to £69.5m in 2006 and £77.9m in 2007.
He also said the number of visitors to Weardale had risen from 1,750,000 in 2004 to 1,795,000 in 2007.
According to employment figures, 909 people worked in the tourist industry in 2004 compared to 1,687 in 2007.
The number of retail jobs also rose from 62 in 2004 to 283 in 2007.
Mr Temple said although it couldn’t be proven that the railway had led to the rise, he said it must have played its part especially as the number of passengers using the line last year rose by 41 per cent.