Letters

Letters Thank you for all the railway features

I had to write and tell you how much I enjoy reading all of the rail-related articles that you include in your excellent magazine, especially those concerning the much-missed Somerset & Dorset Railway. It is good that you help to keep the memory of this wonderful line very much alive and oh how useful it would be, now, in providing us with a direct link between Bournemouth and Bath and onwards to the midlands and the north. Admittedly, you can of course still travel by rail direct to Bath from Castle Cary and Bruton but, if you want to go by train to Bournemouth you must, again, go to Bruton or Castle Cary and then change at either Upwey or Dorchester West where, at the latter, you then have to walk to Dorchester South, to catch another train towards Bournemouth. The station at Bournemouth Central is also not very central and is a long way from the beach, whereas Bournemouth West was much closer and I speak as one who went to Bournemouth by train many times with my parents when I was a child. Nowadays I need to travel, quite often, to Radstock, Shepton Mallet and Blandford and it would be so nice to be able to do these journeys by train rather than by car. If the S&D was indeed uneconomical in the 1960s and had to be closed, why did the powers that be not at least preserve the infrastructure so that it could be reopened in the future because, to quote Sir John Betjeman in his programme ‘Let’s Imagine a Branch Line Railway’: “Road traffic is becoming increasingly hellish on this overcrowded island!” Well, he said that in 1963 and it has become ever more hellish since then. To close it was one thing but to literally set about obliterating it not long after it was closed was nothing short of institutional vandalism. Once viaducts have

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall

justsocaricatures.co.uk

been blown up, stations knocked down and built over and cuttings filled in, it is a near impossibility to reopen a railway. Although they did manage to do that with the Borders Railway – but that is in Scotland! Surely it would have been much better to have converted the entire route to a Trailway, as has happened on sections of the line since closure, so that at least the trackbed, buildings and viaducts could be largely preserved. It is often Dr Beeching who is blamed for the line’s demise and, certainly, it was he, together with the help of the awful Ernest Marples and the Conservative Government, who earmarked it for closure. However, it was actually Tom Fraser and the Labour Government, under Harold Wilson, who consented to its demise. So, in a way, we have both the Conservatives and Labour to thank for not having the railway any more and for its hasty destruction. Therefore, I say, all power to the likes of the North Dorset Railway at Shillingstone and to the Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust at Midsomer Norton for trying to restore at least a part of the wonderful S&D. Long may all of their efforts continue and be fully supported and encouraged by the New Blackmore Vale Magazine and, more especially, by the good people of Somerset & Dorset. Marc Stowell Wincanton

n While applauding the scheme afoot for the re-opening and use of Sherborne House as an arts centre, the fact that the first step towards it has been an act of appalling environmental vandalism does not bode well to subsequent developments. I refer, of course, to the senseless felling of most of the beautiful limes which had hitherto so artfully framed the building. What possible justification can there be by those in charge for depriving the town and house of itself one of the most beautiful aspects of the site, depriving future visitors of their shade and beauty, birds of their nests, and everybody in the vicinity of the improved air quality that their exhalation of oxygen produces? I moved to this town 20 years ago and was most impressed by how green a town it was, with so many trees gracing its centre. I would estimate that about 50% of them have subsequently been felled in that time. Other towns in Dorset appreciate and guard their greenery. Shaftesbury, for example, promotes walks around the town that take people to the most outstanding examples. What a pity Sherborne has no regard for its own assets in this way. Dean Carter Sherborne

n I am writing to say a big Thank You to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. Having called them in the morning, as one of my smoke detectors had stopped working properly, I had a visit from them early afternoon with two new smoke detectors fitted. So very well done, a quick and efficient service, and free! I was very impressed. M Buckingham Sherborne

n Last weekend my daughter and her husband visited me from the Forest of Dean for just a few hours to check up on how this Old Biddy was coping throughout the covid pandemic, and having a morning to spare we decided to check up on some little hidden treasures of Dorset – visiting Olives et al at Sturminster Newton and were so pleased at the very warm welcome we received, they really are an excellent example of a good family outlet. After stocking up our larders, decided on the way home, to call in at the Shillingstone Railway Project to rest a while, enjoying the fantastic views across the valley to Hambledon Hill, and partake of hot homemade pasties for lunch. I felt so privileged that I was able to enjoy such wonderful Dorset treasures just a few miles from my home. Everywhere I felt was covid safe, so how fantastic is that. The weather was hot, so please don’t despair at not going abroad for your holiday there is so much to see, explore and enjoy right here on your doorstep. Della Jones MBE Winterborne Zelston