Shotley Pier

Suffolk's Only Railway Pier

Narrow Gauge History on the Pier

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Pier Railways Graham Feldwick is the voluntary ‘Handworked Lines’ Records Officer for the Industrial Railway Society and the ‘Archaeology & History’ Editor for the Narrow Gauge Railway Society, both leading and long-standing specialist organisations. Graham and his wife Lesley have a collection of ex-industrial narrow gauge railway locomotives and wagons built up over the past 40 years, have been involved as volunteers in heritage building and narrow gauge railway restoration for a similar period, and also provide help to organisations and individuals. The Industrial Railway Society is devoted to the recording and study of all aspects of industrial and privately owned railways, both at home and overseas. This, of course, includes pier railways in all their various gauges and forms, and the Society has records on each. It’s interesting to see how many piers once boasted a railway, from busy standard gauge lines moving large numbers of passengers, through to those busy using narrow gauge, and then to piers that simply had a line to carry out a humbler, but equally important, task. Shotley was one such pier railway. The pier was built with the vision of a new branch line to carry post from Ipswich and beyond, but had to be satisfied with just a simple narrow gauge line on the pier, hand-worked to carry the mail. Pier railways hold a very special place in the history of the use of railways in the UK, and Shotley – being both a Railway Pier and having its narrow gauge line – is an important part of this. Rarely visited, the records for both the Industrial Railway Society and the Narrow Gauge Railway Society are quite brief and their members are now being asked if they have any information to add to this. Graham was born in Essex and for a few years  he and his wife Lesley owned Bradfield Post Office & Stores just along from Harwich, so know this area well.  Graham has already discussed reinstating a section of rail  “Should it be decided to relay the narrow gauge line on the pier we would be delighted to offer guidance and help.”

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Winning Roof Style announced

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The Board is very pleased that so many people got in touch to vote or make comments. 227 investors took part, which is a 42.8% member participation rate. Just under half the voters preferred a pitched roof:  113 investors  49.3% of the voters 94 investors (41.4 % of the voters) preferred the gabled pitched roof, with another 18  (7.9% of the voters) preferring the plain pitched roof. This compares with 80 votes for the curved roof (35.2% of the voters) The method of voting was: by email, text message, Facebook message, phone, face to face at pier events, and by post. Some asked why the Board didn’t simply move forward with the design shown at the AGM.  The concept at that stage was for consideration as part of our review. Chairman John Davitt, in his remarks to the meeting, said it was not the final design, it was at the concept stage. 78 people attended the AGM,  only 14% of the membership. We committed to taking a vote from all members and we are very pleased that so many members took that opportunity. There remain other aspects to finalise, such as windows, roof material, and the length and width of the revised buildings. These will all be drawn up now the roof style has been settled. The Board is considering various options to reduce the length, height  and width of the Visitor Centre. A very big thank you to all who took part – whether you voted or sent a message of support.  It really encourages the Board and volunteers to know that so many of you support the way we are proceeding, and see that we are trying our best to listen to all points of view at the same time as making decisions that not everyone agrees with, it’s like walking a tightrope ! Comments and ideas are welcome to shotleypier@gmail.com Emails received from members: “Thank you for the opportunity to take part in decisions, it should be a vote for ALL people who donated, not just those who can get to meetings” ” I am severely disabled and can’t get to meetings, I’m pleased to get a chance to vote” “My first choice would be option 3, then option 4, then option 2.   I know you only asked for the favourite but I’m too undecided!!” “Very democratic and equitable to take this vote! Have a great Christmas and…

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Consultation on new plans

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Consultation has been taking place at Shotley  amongst investors, local people and stakeholders in respect of revised plans for the pier buildings. Following the refusal of the original planning application, the Board has been considering how to proceed. Consultation has now begun regarding the style of roof, with four options for investors to vote on. Comments from non-investors are welcome too, the Board will review all input in January for discussion with planners. Two similarly sized buildings at the shore end of the pier would be built on a platform on either side of the pier, one to house the visitor centre and the other a workshop.  The original planned buildings  and footprint of the new design are shown on this website, with four options regarding the roof design being available to investors to vote on.  Chairman John Davitt said: “ since September, we have been looking at how we can compromise, and asking our investors and neighbours for their input. We look forward to seeing which roof design appeals most to our investors” The Board of Directors agreed three important principles at the outset: Keep the Pier Clear  for walking on. Group activities such as drawing and painting, photography or other leisure activity such as angling, need to take place on a platform because the pier is not wide enough for groups of people to take up room with stationary activities. We will not build on the pier, only alongside it. Step-free access  to welcome people with mobility problems and parents with pushchairs.  Selecting a design with a very gentle slope ensures access for all. Free entry to the pier so that anyone can stroll along it without paying an entry fee. The main areas of compromise have been to reduce the height and width of the buildings, reduce the length of the Visitor Centre by reducing the number of tables and chairs and removing office space. Comments on the four roof style options are welcomed, as well as the possible layout on the new draft plan. Email shotleypier@gmail.com if you wish to share your opinion

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Setback for Pier as Planning Permission Refused

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Our application was actually recommended for approval and had widespread support to help us move the project forward. The discussion was illogical at times, and the Babergh Solicitor kept telling objecting councillors the reasons they were giving were not valid in planning law. After the vote of 7 against 6, the 7 councillors struggled for 11 minutes to give reasons that could be put in the council minutes. We have been advised we have good grounds for appeal. Following the many emails and comments from investors, the Board is weighing up next steps, looking at whether to appeal and whether to revise the plans. Most of the 38 objections came from the Sailing Club next door, and the small vocal group who have objected to every stage of our project. We have been approached by the Marina to have talks with them and other local businesses, and as ever, we are always ready to listen to opinions. Investors are very welcome to give opinions to the volunteers, either by chatting or by emailing shotleypier@gmail.com We have been shortlisted for 3 major grants, all of them require planning permission to be in place before they make an award, so we need to progress to planning permission as soon as possible. Mis-information was spread that we intended to open an 84 seater restaurant, and this clearly influenced councillors who believed we were trying to steal trade from the nearby pub and marina. It was hard to stomach the comment from Councillor Busby that our volunteers would ruin other local traders when we all feel that extra visitors will benefit all traders there, and we have no intention of serving restaurant meals, only light refreshments. Tables and chairs are not only for eating at ! Some people have said why not just repair the pier without a building on it?   The proposed buildings are not going to be on the pier, they would be on decking alongside the pier, we hoped for a workshop for volunteer maintenance of the pier, plus a visitor centre as is normal on a pier, to enable us to hold  pier-related activities. The kind of activity our Visitor Centre expects to have: Leaning on the railings to bird watch Junior craft activities in the school holidays to enjoy the pier Creative leisure such as art and photography Enjoying looking at the views while strolling or sitting inside…

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Memoir of the Pier

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We are seeking to interview people who have memories of the Pier. The Board has always wanted to celebrate the personal stories of people who care about the pier. We’ve teamed up with author Robert Ashton, for whom this will be his 20th published book. As a child Robert lived at Brantham and so used to visit the pier himself more than 50 years ago. His book will be an exploration into the pier’s past, its present, and the hopes people have for its future. He’s describing the book, which will be titled ‘River of Hope’ as a collective biography, sharing the stories of those he meets or speaks to, both by design and also by chance. Robert takes his inspiration from George Ewart Evans, who wrote about rural Suffolk before the Great War. He too wrote the stories of people he met, capturing them before they were lost. Robert is currently researching the book and conducting interviews, some face to face and some over the phone. If you would like to share your story about the pier, please contact Robert by email, robert@robertashton.co.uk  or get in touch with us and we’ll make an introduction. He hopes to have the interviews completed by mid-September, so that the book can be published in time for Christmas. The book will be a fundraiser for the pier, as well hope, as spreading word about why this project is so important. Contact robert@robertashton.co.uk

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About Us

We are the Shotley Heritage Charitable Community Benefit Society Ltd. Established 2016 to raise funds to purchase and restore the Shotley Pier.

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