Future line closures, protecting the routes.

[Busman]

I think from now on, any further line closures that end up being permanently disused (line and stations) should be exempt and made illegal for them to be sold to property developers or local authorities for new bypasses etc.

Of course I jest a little but the point I'm making is that I've now done a fair few walks along disused lines and with thanks to many hard working volunteers at there are some amazing walks through some disused railway lines and stations.

The Flitch Way is one of those, running from Braintree in Essex (right next door to the still live station), you can walk around 75% of what was a 16 mile stretch of railway line all the way (or about a mile from it) Bishops Stortford. The line has lots of pleasant things to see, Rayne station, 2 miles along from Braintree has a lovely Mk1 carriage adjacent to the platform which has been converted into a mini museum, the station has been converted into an outdoor seating area along with a nice little cafe.

Along the route you pass under many old bridges and walk over some old steel bridges still in situ to this day going as far back as the late 1800's.

So going back to my point, wouldn't it be nice if we could at least keep old railway lines for other purposes other than more new homes and extensive bypass routes.

 

[A0]

I think from now on, any further line closures that end up being permanently disused (line and stations) should be exempt and made illegal for them to be sold to property developers or local authorities for new bypasses etc.

Of course I jest a little but the point I'm making is that I've now done a fair few walks along disused lines and with thanks to many hard working volunteers at there are some amazing walks through some disused railway lines and stations.

The Flitch Way is one of those, running from Braintree in Essex (right next door to the still live station), you can walk around 75% of what was a 16 mile stretch of railway line all the way (or about a mile from it) Bishops Stortford. The line has lots of pleasant things to see, Rayne station, 2 miles along from Braintree has a lovely Mk1 carriage adjacent to the platform which has been converted into a mini museum, the station has been converted into an outdoor seating area along with a nice little cafe.

Along the route you pass under many old bridges and walk over some old steel bridges still in situ to this day going as far back as the late 1800's.

So going back to my point, wouldn't it be nice if we could at least keep old railway lines for other purposes other than more new homes and extensive bypass routes.

Bit in bold - but you won't stop development of new roads or new housing - so what you're suggesting simply moves such development from 'brownfield' sites (which former railway lines and lands are) onto 'green field' sites.

Surely it's better, particularly in urban areas, to re-use brownfield sites, rather than diminish the green field sites ?