PLANS by the Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line (FoSCL)to become a member of Government backed Community Rail have been given the support of Craven District Council.
Members of the council’s Policy Committee were told membership of the Community Rail Partnership could provide access to additional funding and support, as well as formal recognition as a consultative body for the planning and delivery of rail services.
Community Rail is a government-supported programme which enables community involvement in the planning and delivery of rail services in a local area.
In Craven, users of the Bentham Line are currently represented by the successful Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership.
However, despite a large and active membership, FoSCL is not currently formally recognised as a Community Rail Partnership for the Settle-Carlisle Line, heard councillors.
At the online Policy meeting, Councillor Carl Lis, lead member for greener Craven, said the Bentham Line was already a member and it made good sense for the Settle Carlisle Line to also join the partnership.