Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:37:44 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://selrap.org.uk/images/logo.gif http://selrap.org.uk/ web@selrap.org.uk http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=110 There will be elections for Unitary and District councils on May 6th and a General Election, probably at the same time. We’re pleased to report that: All 3 candidates from the main parties for the Pendle constituency are individual members of SELRAP All 3 candidates from the main parties for the Skipton & Ripon constituency support the campaign However, please lobby your local councillor candidates and Prospective Parliamentary candidates for other constituencies to support the re-opening of the railway between Colne and Skipton. To check if current Councillors and MPs support the campaign click here To check if your MP is retiring click here To find out your candidates click here, then select your region in the menu at the top. If contact details are not given, go to the website of the party in question or enter the candidates name, constituency and the word contact in your search engine (e.g. Google) Local Council candidates’ contact details should be published on your Council’s website after April 16th but they may be available earlier from local Party websites. Thank you for your help. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:37:44 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=109 The latest edition of our newsletter has just been released and can be downloaded in electronic format, along with previous releases here Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:44:28 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=108 RAIL REOPENING CONFERENCE Top politicians representing all three major parties attended SELRAP’s third major conference, which took place in Skipton on Friday 6th November. An impressive array of speakers combined to back SELRAP’s campaign to see the Skipton-Colne rail line reopened as part of a new trans-Pennine route, and offer embryonic pointers towards the formation of a funding partnership for the rebuild. A full conference report is being prepared, and will be posted on this site when completed. For photos of the event click here The speaker list and associated quotes [click below] is aimed at giving the reader a flavour of this landmark event. The Conference was supported by:           Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:31:28 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=107 Please respond to North Yorkshire County Council’s online questionnaire which they want to show them what their residents think are the most important issues for them to tackle through transport. Please mention your support for the reinstatement of the Skipton to Colne railway wherever you can. To do so you may have to enter 'other' as your preferred choice of answer.The closing date for response to the questionnaire is 30 September 2009. Thank you. For more information and the questionnaire click here Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:39:41 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=106 Despite many of our MEP supporters retiring from the Europen Parliament, we now have the support of 43 out of the 72 MEPs in the new Parliament These include Brian Simpson, Chair of the Transport & Tourism Committee., the 2 other UK members of that Committee, Jacqueline Foster & Mike Nattrass and Robert Sturdy, Vice Chairman of the International Trade Committee. The 2 UK Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, Diana Wallis and Edward McMillan-Scott, both SELRAP supporters, have also been re-elected. For the full list of MEPs click 'Read the full article' below Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:00:38 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=105 Four delegates from SELRAP -Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership together with North Yorkshire County Council's Rail Officer and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport from Lancashire met with Rail Minister Chris Mole to press for the reopening of the Skipton-Colne line.This 11.5 mile stretch would provide an essential alternative to existing over capacity Trans-Pennine routes.Reinstatement of this line would provide extensive benefits for the North East and West regions,linking the East and West coast lines.A study commissioned by SELRAP,carried out by JMP Consulting in 2007 gave 'a positive cost to benefit ratio'. Chris Mole was impressed with the support and case presented.He listened closely and his approach was helpful.Meetings were also held with Shadow Rail Ministers Stephen Hammond for the Conservatives who saw the importance of an additional trans-pennine route.Norman Baker for the Liberal Democrats, a campaigner for HIgh Speed Rail (HSR) gave contacts for those supporting rail re-openings.Comments from a SELRAP delegate 'our expectations were unknown and we've come away with lots of help and advice to progress our case.A successful day'. Pictured before meeting the Rail Minister at Skipton station.From left to right Cllr Keith Bailey from Lancashire County Council,Ruth Ratcliffe,Andy Shackleton,chairman Derek Jennings holding the briefcase,Cllr Robert Heseltine from North Yorkshire and David Penney. The forth team member was David Mawdsley who met us at King's Cross. Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:39:58 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=104 The latest edition of our newsletter has just been released and can be downloaded in PDF format, along with previous releases here Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:42:08 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=103 Do you live or work in Lancashire or North Yorkshire? Do you holiday in either? If so please read the articles attached below from Lancashire’s Vision Newspaper and/or the North Yorkshire Times as appropriate and, as requested in the articles, send in your views about the reopening by email or letter to the address in the relevant article. Your response could be in terms of how the reopening would be useful to you/your family, how it would be useful to your local community or in broader terms how it would be useful to the Counties and society in general. North Yorkshire Times Lancashire Vision Mon, 04 May 2009 18:00:08 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=102 We now have the support for the re-opening of Cumbria Tourism, the Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board, Manchester Marketing, The Mersey Partnership, Visit Chester & Cheshire and the Yorkshire Tourist Board. For quotations from their letters of support click here They join 535 organisations (including businesses) and 507 individual politicians backing the reinstatement of the railway Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:09:25 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=100  On Sunday 7th December SELRAP operated its third “Missing Link” excursion train. Billed as a Christmas Shoppers’ Special, and operated in partnership with Boundary Mill Stores, this unique service started in Skipton and headed for Colne. Odd, you might think. What with the rail line between the two towns having been closed for the best part of 40 years. But for the Skipton-East Lancashire Partnership …..the impossible simply takes a little bit longer.Please read the full Press Release by following the link at the bottom of this box. Read an article from the Yorkshire Post and watch their excellent 5 minute video of the tripVideo of the train's departure More Photos of the tripand some more Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:19:32 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=98 The latest edition of our newsletter has just been released and can be downloaded in PDF format, along with previous releases here Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:44:28 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=95 SELRAP featured on BBC Radio 4 programme ‘You & Yours’ Monday 7th April, 2008. Reporter Mark Holstock examined the question ‘Could closed lines be reopened?’ Featured on the programme were SELRAP’s Andy Shackleton and Edith Sheldrick and our campaign to re-open Skipton to Colne. Stephen Joseph, Director of the Campaign for Better Transport (formerly Transport 2000) made the case for rail re-openings while Cllr Stella Smedley, Cabinet Member for the Environment Nottinghamshire County Council, Jim Bamford, Rail Officer Nottinghamshire County Council and local residents spoke of the success of the last line reopened in England, the Robin Hood Line, over 10 years ago and under British Rail, To listen to the ‘You & Yours’ report click here Thu, 01 May 2008 11:53:31 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=92  A highly detailed, 9-page report prepared by SELRAP at the request of the All Party Parliamentary Rail Group when they met in the Palace of Westminster on March 7, has been welcomed and praised by the APPRG. “Overcoming Challenges to Rail Reinstatement Schemes: What Parliamentarians Can Do To Help” details the many hurdles which lie in the path of SELRAP’s aim to see the Skipton-Colne railway line re-opened – and ways in which those hurdles may be overcome - as well being relevant to the many reinstatement schemes backed by campaigners and authorities throughout England, but where progress is stymied by the long, costly and tortuous process. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:17:53 +0100 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=91 Three members of the SELRAP committee travelled to London on March 10 to present the case for re-opening the Skipton-Colne railway line to Members of both Houses of Parliament. The group, headed by chairman Derek Jennings and including Andy Shackleton and Frank Filardo, addressed the All Party Parliamentary Rail Group in Committee Room 7 of the Palace of Westminster, quite an imposing venue and audience for a volunteer campaign group!! Some of the audience are seen in our picture, from left to right: Gordon Prentice (MP for Pendle), Lord Tony Berkeley, Lord Bruce Grocott, Norman Baker MP, Lord Richard Faulkner and Kelvin Hopkins MP. SELRAP chairman Derek Jennings is seen on the far right of picture .The pictures were taken by Andy Shackleton – and note that the group are holding copies of SELRAP’s eye-catching ‘CravenRail’ newsletter!! Among others attending was Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry. Derek Jennings comments: “SELRAP’s campaign is really hitting the high notes, and we are increasingly recognised in high places as a more than just a volunteer group. The impact created by the campaign goes far beyond what one normally associates with such groups. Andy did his usual expert presentation on our campaign and we were then able to answer Members’ questions and discuss our aims further. SELRAP is very grateful to Gordon Prentice for having set up this meeting, and we are sure it will lead to a far better understanding of the case for re-opening the Skipton-Colne railway within Westminster, where our impact will grow over the coming months.” Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:40:20 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=90 256 Councils from across the North of England, some more than 100 miles apart, support our campaign to re-open the Colne to Skipton railway: • 2 County Councils: Lancashire, North Yorkshire • 19 Unitary: Barnsley, Blackpool, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Cheshire West & Chester, Doncaster, Hull, Kirklees, Knowsley, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, St Helens, Sefton, Sheffield, Wigan & Wirral • 12 District Councils: Burnley, Chorley, Craven, Fylde, Harrogate, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, South Lakeland, West Lancashire & Wyre • 38 Town Councils • 184 Parish Councils • 1 Neighbourhood Council The reopening is in the Lancashire and North Yorkshire Local Transport Plans. We also have the support of the Leader of South Ribble Council Click read full story below for the full list of parish and town councils Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:30:56 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=89 SELRAP’s campaign has the support of a wide variety of businesses including 2 banks, 10 Building Societies, 8 Airports, a shipbuilder, 3 large manufacturing concerns, a construction company, two large stores with multiple outlets, a national Car Breakdown Service, 2 national Power Supply Companies, a national phone company, 6 theatres, a food wholesaler, several co-ops, small businesses, 2 restaurants, shops, 4 football clubs, 3 rugby clubs, 2 B & Bs, a Guest House, a Castle, a Hotel, CBI North West, CBI Yorkshire and the Humber and 25 Chambers of Trade and Commerce. The Campaign also has the backing of the General Secretaries of all 4 Rail Unions ASLEF, RMT, TSSA & UNITE as well as the Lancashire Association of TUCs, the Yorkshire & Humberside TUC Regional Council, Burnley TUC and ASLEF, UNITE and UNISON branches. Greater Manchester, Merseyside (Merseyrail), Tyne & Wear (Nexus), West Midlands (Centro), West Yorkshire (Metro) & South Yorkshire PTEs and ITAs (formerly PTAs) also support the campaign as do Virgin Trains, Carillion Rail & Corus Rail as well as award winning film director Ken Loach and broadcaster Ian Hislop. We also have the backing of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, the Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board, Cumbria Tourism, Manchester Marketing and the Mersey Partnership. For the full list of business support, scroll down on the left of this page. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:49:12 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=88 Special 'jumbo' membership cards were presented to three new SELRAP Members by chairman Derek Jennings on Skipton station on January 23, 2008. From Left to right, Steve Broadbent (SELRAP Press Officer), Councillors Polly and Paul English, representing Skipton Town Council and Joan Evans, President of the Skipton Chamber of Commerce and Trade, both of which organsations have recently joined as SELRAP Group Members. Fourth from the left is the Mayor of Skipton, Councillor Carole Manley, who became the group's 300th paid-up Member on the special train which SELRAP ran between Colne and Skitpon on October 28, 2007. On the far right is SELRAP Chairman Derek Jennings. Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:16:06 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=87 The Northenden (Manchester) and Harrogate branches of University of the Third Age (U3A) have become the 49th and 50th NGOs (non-governmental organisation) to back the re-opening of the Skipton to Colne railway. Harrogate U3A Chairman Janet Coatman, writes that “the link would enhance communication across the Pennines and offer an alternative to the congested trans-Pennine roads. Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:07:53 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=86 Another important milestone in SELRAP's campaign to see the Skipton-Colne railway line re-opened was reached on Friday January 18 when a delegation from the group met with Brian Simpson, Member of the European Parliament and Director, North West Rail Campaign, in his St Helens office. "We are delighted with the rapport we established with Mr Simpson", says SELRAP chairman Derek Jennings, "he very much agreed with the strategy we have adopted and gave us several useful pointers for the future, including advice that we should concentrate on seeking a high-quality trans-pennine railway and that we should engage with the European Parliament. SELRAP looks forward to developing relations with both Mr Simpson and the North West Rail Campaign. " Our photo (meeting with Brian Simpson.jpg) shows, Left to Right: Brian Simpson, Andy Shackleton (SELRAP Liaison Officer), Derek Jennings (SELRAP Chairman), Emma Antrobus (Coordinator, NW Rail Campaign), and David Penney (SELRAP Planning & Development Officer) Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:57:16 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=85 Continuing its efforts to secure support from key individuals and organisations for its campaign to see the Skipton-Colne railway line re-opened, SELRAP is delighted to have received four more such messages, all from the Preston/Wigan area, in the last few days. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:38:14 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=84 SELRAP's campaign has the backing of 42 Educational organisations: Blackburn College, Bradford University, Bradford University Students Union, Burnley College, Burnley Play Association, Colne Primet High School, Craven College, Daisyfield Primary School, Edge Hill University, Liverpool John Moores University, Myerscough College, Nelson & Colne College, Park Lane College Keighley, Pendle District Youth Council, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Saints John Fisher & Thomas More Catholic Humanities College, St Stephen’s Catholic School, Skipton Girls’ High School, Trawden Forest Primary School, The Lancashire Link Network of U3AS, U3A Bebington, U3A Bradford, U3A Bromsborough, U3A Burnley, U3A Chorley, U3A Craven Railway Study Group, U3A Formby, U3A Harrogate, U3A Northenden (Manchester), U3A Richmond, U3A Sale, U3A Warrington, U3A Wirral, U3A York, UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire), University of Bolton, University of Bolton Students' Union, University of Bradford Students' Union, University of Chester, University of Manchester Students' Union, University of Salford, WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) Yorkshire and the Humber We have the support of 8 NHS Bodies: NHS NW, Blackburn with Darwen NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust, Bradford & Airedale, Calderdale, East Lancashire, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, North Yorkshire & York NHS Primary Care Trust Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Accrington Stanley and Burnley Football Clubs, Leeds Carnegie Rugby Union, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League and Wigan Warriors Rugby League want the reopening as do The Ramblers Association nationally, their North East Lancashire Area Clitheroe Group, Colne Cycling Campaign, Pendle Leisure Trust and Pendle Forest Cycling Club. For quotes from an education perspective, click here For quotes from a health perspective here Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:41:56 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=83 The Missing Link - a short video documenting the first train from Colne to Skipton for 37 years is now available for viewing online at Youtube. It is divided into five parts. The full high quality DVD version can also be purchased through this site. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:48:32 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=79  The most recent Members of the House of Lords to send a Letter of Support for our Campaign are Lord Carlile, Lord Cotter, Baroness Hamwee, Lord Jones of Cheltenham, Baroness Julia Neuberger, Lord Steel & Baroness Thomas of Walliswood. Amongst members of Parliamentary Committees backing our campaign are: 6 out of the 10 members of the Crossrail Bill Select Committee 7 out of the 11 members of the Transport Select Committee including the Chair 11 out of the 27 members of the Parliamentary Rail Group 7 out of the 21 members of the Parliamentary West Coast Main Line Group. For the full list of House of Lords support click ‘Read the full article’ below. Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:52:49 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=78  The latest MPs to support our campaign are Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall), John Randall (Uxbridge), Nick Harvey (North Devon), Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire), Anne McGuire (Stirling), Martin Caton (Gower), Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire), Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe), Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesborough South and East Cleveland), Kali Mountford (Colne Valley) and Rt Hon Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) In all we have the support of 166 MPs. Click below to see the full list Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:36:20 +0000 http://selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=77 A new independent study into the re-opening of the Skipton-Colne railway line was launched by SELRAP at a Briefing at Herriots Hotel in Skipton last Friday (November 30) where the audience heard totally positive support voiced by all the speakers, including two Members of Parliament. SELRAP, the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership campaigns for the re-opening of this line as part of the national network. Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:07:39 +0000