[27
JUL 00]
RUGBY GROUP NEWS
Southam Backs Rail Link - But Will It Ever Happen?
Southam
councillors back the plan to take lorries off the road and get Rugby
Cement freight on the rail.
But
the district council leader fears it may never get off the drawing
board, and lorries will thunder through the area for decades to come.
Rugby
MP Andy King is backing the project for Rugby Cement to reopen the
railway between the Long Itchington works, which is being closed, to
the enlarged main site in Rugby.
He
said it will save lorries using the rural roads between Southam and
Rugby for the next 45 years.
Cllr
Bob Stevens, leader of the Stratford District Council (covering
Southam) and county councillor for Southam, likes the idea, but is not
sure it will stack up financially.
He
said the idea has cross-party support, but added:
“I
think most people are behind this, other than a few people at the
Model Village (Long Itchington) who are worried about the noise as
the trains go by their house. But we are not sure it will happen.
“I
think when we had Rugby Cement, we were dealing with a local company
that cared about the environment, but things have changed.”
He
remembers trains using the freight link as late as 1986, but now the
line stands empty and is used by walkers.
There
was a scheme to develop the redundant line as a cycleway between Rugby
and Leamington.
Some
hope a renewed rail link could see passenger services between Rugby
and Leamington, although few doubt that would be viable.
So
much of the land in the Leamington has been lost to development and
the urban Rugby end could soon be transformed into a relief road.
Cllr
Stevens said:
“The
negotiations are continuing and should be complete by the end of
next month. We do welcome the idea of the rail line.
"The
county council has given them (Rugby Cement) until the end of August
to say if it wants the line.
“I
not sure that people really think it will happen, but it would save
all those lorries on the road.”
The
Long Itchington plant closed in May and work continues as part of the
wind-down until the end of August and then all material will be taken
to Rugby, either by road or rail.
The
old site is likely to make way for a mix of housing and industry, and
some hope a country park will also be included in the new planning
brief being drawn up by Stratford District Council.
SEE:
[25 JUL 00] RUGBY MP BACKS RAIL LINK TO
SOUTHAM
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