Council in talks to buy up rail land

A piece of land seen as the linchpin in Oswestry's heritage railway could soon by bought by Shropshire County Council.

And the plans for the coal yard at Gobowen railway station would also provide vital extra parking for the mainline railway station.

British Rail was to have put the yard on the open market. But after talks, it agreed to offer the land to the council and councillors agreed to proceed with the purchase, although the cost has not been disclosed.

Martin Allard, council spokesman, said: "British Rail Residual was going to put the land on the open market, but we said we believed it could still have a future for rail-related uses.

"Councillors agreed to the acquisition and negotiations now continue."

The coal yard has its own platform which could be used as the terminus for the Cambrian Railways heritage railway project. Rail enthusiasts want to reopen the line between Gobowen and Blodwel, via Oswestry.

Owen Paterson, Conservative MP for North Shropshire, welcomed the news.

"The heritage railway would need the coal yard platform to bring its line into the station and both it and the mainline need more car parking," he said.

"With the promised new three-and-a-half-hour direct link to London, there will be even more pressure on the station."