The West Somerset Railway on the Web

 BBC Somerset Sound interview with Chris Austin 4 July 2003

Good morning Simon.

Thanks very much for coming in. Welcome to your new role as Chairman, early days, how's it going?

Thank you very much. Yes well, I was able to report last Saturday that the railway's continued to grow, record numbers last year, and really that's part of the issue. In order to carry on growing we've got to make sure that nothing's done at the Minehead end to restrict access to the station or the future capability of the railway to carry on growing to become the principle tourist attraction in West Somerset.

How realistic are your fears though that access will be limited to the station when the new council building goes up?

Well I think our concern is that we're talking about quite large numbers here, earlier in the year we carried record number on one excursion train from Huddersfield, 668 passengers, and this coming weekend we're doing a Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends event, and there'll be well over a thousand people on the station for that, so it's important that nothing is done to restrict the ability of the railway to handle those sort of numbers.

So how big are your fears than that that might happen?

Well, we're obviously concerned and we will be discussing that with the District Council. Monday was the first intermation we had of their plans, and I believe they understand the issue and that they'll be prepared to discuss with us how we can ensure that nothing is done to interfere with the development of this very special railway.

Just to clarify this for people listening, it's not actually on your land is it.

No it isn't, it's land belonging to the County Council which is used as a car park at the moment, and of course many of our customers on the railway do use this pay and display car park before catching the train.

Are there other areas of parking nearby do you think, or could that in itself be a problem?

Yes there are, but they're quite a long way away, quite a long walk, particularly for our passengers who are elderly or disabled.

You say as well Chris, at the meeting, and it's obviously far more relevant now at the end of this week when we've had this news from WSDC, you say you are also worried that it might restrict scope for future growth for the railway station. How realistic is that do you think?

Oh I think that's very realistic. The railway's expanded year on year up to last year's record level of 172,000 passengers, so that's big business and it's big business for tourism in West Somerset. And of course we want to link it with coach tours over Exmoor and the ability of people to have access by taxi and car to catch the trains or be met from trains.

So have you got designs on any of the land that WSDC have now got for their new building?

Only to say that if that area is being developed, recognising the needs for access to the railway, I think it would be good to see it developed so that when people come off the trains they see cafes or shops or other things to do in Minehead rather than council offices.

Many people would say I'm sure though, particularly those who campaigned long and hard to get this new £4m building in Minehead, rather than having it, as it is at the moment in Williton, they would say well it's actually adding prestige to Minehead isn't it, and actually it's no bad thing for you, from that point of view, to have your railway line and your station actually next door to this building.

Well I wouldn't want to argue about where it should be located, which town. My only concern is that wherever it's placed in Minehead doesn't inhibit the ability of the railway to grow and develop. If it can be located at an area which doesn't affect that then we'll not have any concerns.

But you were saying there that perhaps the first thing a lot of your customers don't want to see when they arrive off the train at Minehead is the council headquarters. Do you not think that that might be a prestigious building for people to see?

Well it might well be, but I think they're not looking for prestigious buildings, I think they're looking for somewhere nice to have a cup of tea, or something to do during their stay in Minehead, which has so much to offer.

You don't think it'll be good for trade then, I mean a lot of people are going to work there for a start aren't they.

Yes I guess they are, but of course a lot of our trade is at weekends when I imagine the offices would be closed.

It sounds as though, what you've told us today though, that things are pretty amenable at the moment, it hasn't got nasty yet, the council have agreed to talk to you, so you're hopes for the future Chris, how do you see this one developing.

Oh, pretty optimistic yes. As you say, there's nothing, we just want to make sure the needs of the railway, as West Somerset's principle tourist attraction, are fully taken into account on any decisions that are made in relation to the council building.

And it does sound as though they will listen to you, though I guess to be honest, at the end of the day, they bought the land, they'll put up the building. There's not much you can do about it.

It will be a decision for them, clearly. We just want to make sure they're aware of our concerns and the needs of the railway and the tourist economy in West Somerset.

Chris, thanks for joining us today. Keep us in touch with how this one develops and good luck for what sounds like a very busy weekend you've got coming up as well.

We're looking forward to that. Thank you."