Unhappy about the outline planning application to redevelop Radstock's railway land and the imminent submission by Linden Homes for 210 dwellings, this week an alternative plan for the railway land in Radstock has been launched by the 'Friends of Radstock Railway Land', a group of around fifty people who want to see the site redeveloped – but without housing.

Originally approached by a Design Consultant, the group have been working on an alternative planning application, which they say is 'technically feasible', viable ecologically and are 'confident that current planning rules mean that the application cannot be turned down by B&NES'. 'We aim to show the planners that this is a good, well thought-out plan and that it has the support of Radstock people.'

But will it? Locals are bound to be divided about whether Radstock needs 210 houses and if it has the infrastructure to support it. But to have no housing at all on such a site and the pressures that B&NES face with the Core Strategy figures if building does not take place here, then these houses will need to go somewhere, and probably on green fields, many of which are currently under threat from opportunistic planning applications.

The alternative planning application for 'Green Rail Radstock' will see the proposed use for the site being a rail/wildlife/community combination, which would take between seven and ten years to complete, seeing volunteers working alongside professionals. The work they would carry out would guarantee no strain on Radstock's current infrastructure, as it doesn't involve the road network. Having a valid planning consent, the group say, would be enough for them to get support from local businesses and to secure grant funding. The group envisage the Friends of Radstock Railway Land becoming a supporting organisation affiliated to a new community company that would deliver a complete, long-term plan.

This long-term plan is to restore the foundations for railway but to not make it happen, as so many would wish – the group hardly have the speculated £40 million needed to achieve this. However, it would work to bring back the railway's heritage, develop the ecology and leisure use of the site and to put in additional features for the community and visitors to enjoy and benefit from, including nature reserve, play-trail, cycle path, picnic area, information boards, standing railway cars for uses such as café, gift shop, plus features complementing the museum, with opportunities for education and skills workshops on site. The group 'aim to secure the site for appropriate use, not to produce an all-singing and dancing rail link to the mainline', but having seen the current planning applications going in, the Friends are concerned that if the site's trackbed is not protected, the link could be lost forever.

They also say that they have large-scale technical drawings to show how they expect the land to be used and have consulted with engineers and ecologists to make sure that both their short and long-term plans are sound and workable.

In the short-term, the planning application will be for site preparation for potential rail use and a cycle path, restoring natural areas and industrial heritage features.

Ideas aside, the Friends of Radstock Railway Land will need to raise nearly £2,000 to pay for the planning application to be submitted to B&NES. More information can be found on the website: http://www.friendsofradstockrailwayland.org">www.friendsofradstockrailwayland.org where they are appealing for donations to make this happen.

Speaking this week, Deborah Porter, Coordinator for Friends of Radstock Railway Land, said: "We have spent a lot of time preparing this plan and we hope we can raise the money and send a strong message to local people that we are serious about this. We are hoping the feedback will be positive and that residents won't feel fazed by our plan.

"It will have no impact on traffic – our application will mean we can have our cake and eat it, preserving this site for the railway, the ecology and the community. It will be really beneficial to Radstock, both socially and economically and will preserve our heritage.

"This plan has no vision for housing, but if the community later decided we really needed that space for people to live, it does not rule out a small amount of dwellings being built. If we don't try, we won't get."

NRR and B&NES Council will no doubt see this as another fly in the ointment to their regeneration plan, which has built momentum during the year. With the planning committee due to look at the applications in late autumn, B&NES' plan to begin the road construction in September this year has already slipped behind.

Linden Homes' planning consultants have recently warned that if the scheme faces further delays, nearly £1 million of Homes and Communities Agency funding could be lost. They say building must begin in January next year for homes to be occupied by March 2015.

Both NRR and Linden Homes have been invited to Radstock Town Council's next public meeting on Monday, 19th August, where their planning application will be discussed and are appealing for local residents to come along, find out more and give their views.

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