The public consultation for the proposed Western Harbour redevelopment of Cumberland Basin and its surrounding area closes on 9th March, so there are only a few days remaining to have your say on the current proposals.
How does this affect the Bristol Harbour Railway? The current proposals do make a point of reinstating the railway along the New Cut (closed since the development of Metrobus on the site of Butterfly Junction). However, the proposed end of the line stops short of the BHR’s intended new terminus (for which ballast has been laid but trains are yet to run to) alongside the bonded warehouse. The BHR’s storage shed ‘the barn’ and the buildings around it are to be demolished under the new proposals in favour of apartment blocks. A link to the proposal video is below:
The Western Harbour / Harbour Hopes project encompasses the redevelopment of land around the Cumberland Basin, including the Bonded Warehouses and the Western end of the Railway itself. The consultation for this closes this Friday (April 22nd). If you feel that it is important to retain the Bristol Harbour Railway’s planned station and Western terminus, you can let the planners know here:
CLICK HERE for the link to the HARBOUR HOPES consultation.
Personally I feel it would be excellent to have the UK’s only standard gauge city-centre steam railway linking two of the most exciting urban regeneration areas (Western Harbour and Wapping Wharf), providing a genuine transport link on running days as well as serving as both an educational and entertainment amenity with a ‘living history’ link to Bristol’s heritage.
In the consultation, question 6 allows you to submit your own comments. If anyone is interested, these are my hopes for the Harbour: “As a local resident, the key thing that means a great deal to me is the integration of the Bristol Harbour Railway into the Western Harbour development. The BHR has not been able to use the station on this site for several years (due to Metrobus construction and river wall repairs) but is soon to make a return. I feel that the opportunity for the UK’s only standard gauge city-centre steam railway to directly connect two of the most exciting urban regeneration projects (Western Harbour and Wapping Wharf) is not to be missed. The railway is operated by volunteers who take great pride in their work and there is a real community spirit to the operation which can be built upon. On operating days it can provide a genuine transport link whilst at the same time a link to Bristol’s industrial heritage, entertaining and educating at the same time. It would be a great shame to lose this opportunity if the railway line were to be built upon. I believe the railway management should be brought on-board in advising how the integration could work.”
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