Callington Light Railway

A public inquiry was held at the Grand Hotel, Plymouth, yesterday, on behalf of the Light Railway Commission, into the Callington Light Railway (Amendment) Order, The Commissioners present being the Hon. A. E. Gathorne-Hardy, Colonel G. F. O. Boughey, R.E., C.S.I., and Mr Henry Alan Steward. Mr Alan D. Erskine, secretary to the Commission, was also present. Mr. R. Williams represented the G.W.R. Company, the promoters of the order and Mr. G. L. Cowland (clerk to the Cornwall County Council), appeared for the body and Mr. H. Wolferstan for Mr. Jasper Rendle a landowner though whose land the Railway will Pass.

In starting the case on behalf of the promoters of the order, Mr Williams said that the history of the scheme dated back to the year 1900, when the Light Railway Commission granted an order to the Callington Light Railway Company to construct a line from St, Stephens-by-Saltash to Callington. The company applied in 1903 for an extension of time which was granted them until 1906, and for the completion of the works to 1908. On May 15, 1905 the company entered into an agreement with G.W.R. Co., the latter to take over their powers to construct the railway and work it. The G.W.R. Co. took over the order subject to any deviation they thought desirable. The Gradients were found to be unnecessarily steep, and certain curves were too sharp, so that in 1906 the G.W.R. Co. deposited a new scheme, but there were objections raised by certain landowners, and the order of 1906 was abandoned. In 1907 the powers were transferred to the G.W.R. Company, and the Commission again extended the time for the purchase of lands until 1909, and for the completion of the works until 1911. The present application was for power to deviate from the original in five places, and to extend the line two and a half furlongs at the Callington end so that a station might be constructed at a more convenient place. These deviations would have the effect of giving a considerably better gradient. For the first four miles there would be a gradient of one in forty, instead on one in sixty, and for the remainder of the distance it would be one in forty-five, instead of one in forty. Certain curves were shown in the original plan which would be inconvenient curves to work, and with the line as proposed at present they would be obviated. He did not think there would be any opposition there that day. The Cornwall County Council had raised certain questions as to the width of roads and height of bridges, but as the result of negotiations he thought that every point had been arranged. The company had agreed in one or two cases to give them slightly higher bridges and in two places a greater width of roadway.

Mr. Cowland concurred.

Mr. Williams, continuing, said that at one time the Great Western Railway Company had carried on negotiations with the Botusfleming Parish Council, which resulted in an agreement being come to between them. There was one point left for settlement with the Callington Urban District Council, but he did not think there would be any difficulty in the matter. The Rev. T. F. Winter was at one time an objector, but an agreement had been arrived at with him. He did not know whether there was any landowners present who had any objection to offer.

Mr. W. W. Grierson engineer of the Great Western Railway Company who was examined by Mr. Williams substantiated the statements made by the latter gentleman. The original line, he said, was to have been eleven miles and four chains. It was now proposed to extend it by about two and a half furlongs. In the course of his examination, Mr Grierson asked that powers should be given to run trains at thirty miles an hour in some places instead of twenty-five, which was the present limit. He pointed out that the tendency was to run trains faster, and that it would accelerate the service.

The reply of the Commissioners was that they were afraid it would be setting a precedent if they made a exception in that case.

The engineer proceeded to speak of the lengthening of the curves, and the advantage that would be derived from the suggested improvements, as well as the convenience to passengers of the situation of the station suggested at Callington.

The Hon. A. E. Gathorne-Hardy remarked that the line proposed seemed to be an improvement on the old one that was granted and an advantage to the public. The Commissioners therefore had no hesitation in sanctioning it.

The inquiry was about to be closed when Mr. James Lucas, of St. Mellion, the occupier of land under the Duchy of Cornwall through which the railway will pass, stated that he had an objection to offer. He said that there was a stream of water on one side of his land which would be cut off entirely by the railway, while he had another objection, which was that it would spoil one end of his farm entirely for arable purposes.

Mr. Williams stated that the Duchy of Cornwall, who owned the property, had had the scheme before them but had made no objection. As regarded the tenant, it was merely a question of compensation. As originally authorized, the line would run through the ground in much the same way.

The Hon. A. E. Gathorne-Hardy said that with regards to the water supply, the objector would be given as good a one as he had at present, and as to the arable land he would be compensated.

Mr. Wolferstan, on behalf of his client, Mr. Rendle, asked if the plans showed the exact position where the station at Botusfleming was to be erected.

Mr. Williams replied that they did not.

Reverting to the question of compensation for damage to property, the Commissioner said that where any damage was done on any land taken it would be paid for. The questions would not be gone into that day. Questions of compensation would be settled afterwards, when proper notice had been given. Mr. Lucas might rely upon it that the question of compensation would be gone into, and his rights properly safeguarded.

Western Daily Mercury 1. February 1908