And ever more twiddling of thumbs....just had a email from Dft to say the decision has been delayed YET AGAIN to 19th February 2023 to give North Somerset more time to secure all the funding.
Absolutely ridiculous !!

I have been asked by my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State to make this written ministerial statement. This statement concerns the application made by North Somerset District Council under the Planning Act 2008 for the construction of a new railway on the trackbed on the former branch line from Bristol to Portishead.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make his decision within 3 months of receipt of the examining authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) to extend the deadline and make a statement to the House of Parliament announcing the new deadline.

The Secretary of State received the examining authority’s report on the Portishead Branch Line – MetroWest Phase 1 development consent order application on 19 July 2021 and, following an earlier extension of 4 months to allow further consideration of environmental matters, the current deadline for a decision is 19 April 2022.

The deadline for the decision is now to be extended to 19 February 2023 (an extension of 7 months) to allow North Somerset District Council further time to demonstrate that funding for the entire scheme has been secured.

The decision to set the new deadline is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent for the above application.

Published 19 April 2022

Even more gloriously bonkers than the Pachelbel in Prague.

Many wine glasses were harmed in the making of this video!

Visited Maunsell lock and tea room today with trainer ....saw the 4 inner planetary markers and the sun...and also noticed 2 pillboxes,part of the Taunton stop line. One facing east and the other facing west. Was a delightful spot at the tearoom with the daffodils out with a very tame Robin perched on the outside table just waiting for a few crumbs of my scrumptious coffee and walnut cake. If it hadn't been for this thread, I would never have known about this. Thumbs up all round to all the contributors.

'From sea to shining sea!' ...isn't that a line from Avon the beautiful ?!

Grant Shapps is not renowned for his pithy soundbites, but I quite enjoyed his reference to the spurious train announcements as the 'bonfire of the banalities'.

And yet as recently as the 1880s the sea came up to the White lion pub now called the old mill by means of a tidal creek.Evidence for this can be found in the iron rings set into the wall of the Methodist  church  useful for tying boats up. The grinding millstone from the mill can be seen on the opposite side of the road.

I'll be home for Christmas. See what I did there.

If  newts weren't bad enough, we've now got the furry creatures of Wimbledon common to deal with (See Womble Bond Dickenson in stuvings post above), along with that irritating Mike Batt  (pun intended) theme song. Perhaps we could ask National Grid to send a few volts their way!

A written statement has gone up on the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) website to say that the DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation) decision has been deferred another 6 months to 19th April 2022 to allow more time for environmental issues to be  considered.

This is copied from the DfT website

I have been asked by my Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport to make this Written Ministerial Statement. This Statement concerns the application made by North Somerset District Council under the Planning Act 2008 for the construction of a new railway on the trackbed on the former branch line from Bristol to Portishead.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make his decision within 3 months of receipt of the Examining Authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) to extend the deadline and make a Statement to the House of Parliament announcing the new deadline.

The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report on the Portishead Branch Line – MetroWest Phase 1 development consent order application on 19 July 2021 and the current deadline for a decision was 19 October 2021.

The deadline for the decision is to be extended to 19 April 2022 (an extension of 6 months) to allow further consideration of environmental matters.

The decision to set new deadlines is without prejudice to the decisions on whether to grant development consent for the above application.

The SoS Grant Shapps is due to make a decision on the DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation) for the Portishead line by this coming Tuesday 19th October. Any straws in the wind, or will be the decision be kicked further into the long grass ?

I may have this completely wrong, but just wonder if Mark Hopwood has any questions to answer during his secondment as interim MD of SWR^» (South Western Railway - about). He must have known of the plans to axe the SWR Bristol Waterloo services, but also knew that as returning GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) MD he would be able to take advantage of filling the gap left by SWR.

Another great typo from the master of Melkham. Personally I wouldn't bother with comets, I'd just send SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) a couple of rockets instead.

There is also the distinct possibility,that,following an 'incident' the trains at Battersea Power Station station will be announced as stationary!

You might have to use the underground or overground. At least you can do a little Wombling ...
free!
On a dark night with a following wind, Mr  G Ellis could be mistaken for Great Uncle Bulgaria.....

Look on the bright side. At least Broadgage would be getting Port if not starboard......I'll get my coat......