NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Grants powers to build and operate any public service railway anywhere in
the UK.
Usual methods are Transport and Works Order (TWO) or Private Bill in Parliament.
Seeks confirmation of acceptability and support at local level.
Special scrutiny
of any scheme felt to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
Keswick
to Penrith Railway does not fall into that category.
Decides how funding for transport will
be distributed and controlled by Local Authorities.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
Scrutinise
applications for powers to build and operate railways.
Can provide advice and guidance to
ensure compliance with legal and policy requirements.
Do not lobby or offer support.
MPs and MEPs
Provide
a means of communication and co-ordination between various levels of Government.
Can assist,
advise, advocate and influence to facilitate smooth progress of schemes which benefit their constituencies.
Can identify sources of funding and facilitate dialogue with project promoters.
CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL
The
Local Transport Authority (LTA) for the whole of Cumbria.
Produces the Local Transport Plan
(LTP), a five-yearly vision of what the County needs, how it can be implemented and by whom (not just its own actions). Basis
for future budgets.
Manages a budget for development and support of transport within the County.
Works on joint strategies with the Lake District National Park Authority.
Consulted
by national Government on transport and resources planning matters including applications for developments which can only
be granted at national level.
Consults Districts, Boroughs, Towns and Parishes on planning
issues.
Can make contracts with transport operators to provide specific levels of service.
Overview of natural resources planning (forestry, quarrying etc.) including transport access.
Can access funding to support transport development (construction and operation).
CUMBRIA LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP (LEP)
Replaces the Northwest Regional Development Agency in Cumbria.
Primary
channel for National Government and European funding for local distribution.
Can co-ordinate
sources of funding for developments which enhance the local economy.
Considered by national
Government as the main channel for advocating and guiding useful local economic development which combines various authorities
and local business interests.
Should actively engage with all levels of local Government,
community and special interest groups to ensure spending reflects local needs and ambitions.
CUMBRIA TOURISM
Overview of tourism business interests.
Provides advice and guidance for local businesses
to meet tourist needs and comply with standards. Advocates best practice, local marketing strategies.
Seen by national Government as the advocate for developments which would enhance tourism as a key component of the
local economy.
LAKE DISTRICT
NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY (LDNPA)
Works
on joint strategies with Cumbria County Council.
Controls land use planning for Keswick to
Penruddock section of the line.
Consults Districts, Boroughs, Towns and Parishes on planning
issues.
Formally protected the trackbed for future sustainable transport use.
Controls environmental impact – “Low Carbon Lake District” report identified re-opening of the
railway from Penrith to Keswick or Cockermouth as a significant contribution to future planning, including designation of
Keswick as a “transport hub”.
Overview of economic development.
Can raise funds for infrastructure development via Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1970 (“Section
106 contributions”) levied on major developments within its area.
Can access funding
to support transport development (construction and operation).
ALLERDALE
BOROUGH COUNCIL
Local Authority for the
western end of the line (Keswick to Threlkeld).
Land use planning on all of this section is
controlled by the LDNPA.
Consults Towns, Parishes and special interest groups on planning
issues.
Seen by national Government as the advocate for developments which would enhance opportunities
for the local community and support the local economy.
Controls local service delivery.
Can raise funds for infrastructure development via Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1970 (“Section
106 contributions”) levied on major developments within its area.
Can access funding
to support transport development (construction and operation).
EDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Local Authority for the eastern end of the line (Troutbeck to Penrith).
Controls land use planning for Penruddock to Penrith section of the line.
Land use
planning is controlled by the LDNPA between Troutbeck and Penruddock.
Consults Towns, Parishes
and special interest groups on planning issues.
Seen by national Government as the advocate
for developments which would enhance opportunities for the local community and support the local economy.
Controls local service delivery.
Can raise funds for infrastructure development via
Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1970 (“Section 106 contributions”) levied on major developments
within its area.
Can access funding to support transport development (construction and operation).
KESWICK TOWN COUNCIL
Reflects the views of the whole local community.
Consulted by County, District and
National Park Authorities on planning issues.
Consults Parishes and special interest groups
on planning issues.
Controls some local service delivery.
Produced
the Keswick Master Plan which includes re-instatement of the railway as a supporting project.
Produced
the Keswick Business Plan.
Has some access to small scale funds to augment transport services
(operations).
PARISH COUNCILS
Reflect the views of the local communities.
Highlight
specific local needs and concerns.
Consulted by County, District and National Park Authorities
on planning issues.
Have some access to small scale funds to augment transport services (operations).
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (BIDs)
Driven by local businesses to advocate, support and generate funding for projects which
enhance the local economy but would not otherwise be delivered by Local Authorities.
May be
consulted on service delivery issues by Local Authorities (no obligation).
Should be consulted
by project promoters and operators to ensure they provide the most relevant services for local communities (no obligation).
LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
For
example:
* Tourism Associations
* Chambers of Trade
* Business Associations
* Civic Societies
* Environmental
Interest groups
Reflect the views of various sectors of the local community.
Sources of opinion to advise, lobby and influence all levels of Government.
May be
consulted by Local Authorities on planning issues (no obligation).
Should be consulted by
project promoters and operators to ensure they provide the most relevant services for local communities (no obligation).
NOTES – LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK for a railway in the
UK
A public service railway in the UK can only be authorised
by national Government.
All UK railways (passenger and freight) are overseen by the Office
of Rail Regulation (ORR) for commercial fairness and for safety (via the Railway Inspectorate).
The
Railway Standards and Safety Board (RSSB) issues the technical standards and rules by which all railways in the UK must be
built and operated. Standards incorporate European inter-operability requirements.
A
number of Train Operators have franchise contracts with the Department for Transport (DfT) to operate specific services on
the national rail network (lines and stations managed by Network Rail). Those Train Operators are free to operate additional
services at their own commercial risk on the national network and on other routes managed by private concerns.
Other Train Operators exist who do not provide franchised services but are licensed to carry passengers. A local
example is the West Coast Railway Co. based at Carnforth which operates charter and special train services all over the UK.
The Railways Act 1992 provides the framework for private concerns to provide railway infrastructure (lines and stations)
alongside or connected to the national rail network. The same standards and rules apply to all Infrastructure Operators
in the UK whether publicly or privately controlled. Relaxations and concessions apply only to isolated “heritage”
railways which operate at lower speeds and do not provide regular public services.
More recent
localisation legislation gives Local Transport Authorities opportunities to influence or develop public transport of all kinds,
including train services, within their own areas or jointly on a regional basis. Such groupings of Authorities would
complement the Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs) which already exist in major conurbations.
Planning
Permission granted at local authority level is not sufficient to authorise a railway which carries fare paying passengers.
