TRAIN lovers who feared their plans to extend a miniature railway would be derailed by a rare amphibian have newt to worry about, it has emerged.
Surrey Society of Model Engineers (SSME) earlier withdrew proposals to enlarge its track at Mill Lane, in Leatherhead, amid concerns about the possible presence of the Great Crested Newt.
But the plans are now back on track thanks to the water company that leases the land to SSME, which has proved the protected species does not reside there.
Sutton and East Surrey Water had an ecological survey carried out when proposing a pipeline route alongside Cobham Road.
Its findings that there were no such newts there mean councillors making the planning decision for SSME can forget the possible sighting of one about 12 years ago near the site of the planned track extension.
It is hoped this will lead to the councillors giving the green light to the plans to approximately double the size of the existing half-mile track.
SSME has about 50 members who mainly concentrate on their steam railways at the site close to the River Mole.
Previously home to watercress beds, the area now has ground-level and raised tracks, with a variety of different locomotives and carriages built by members.
These pass by signal boxes, a workshop, footbridge and sheds. An amenity building, turntable and shunting yard are also part of the operation.
For more than seven years the club has opened this site to the public for around 12 days a year, generally on bank holidays and weekends. It charges just £1 per ride and also opens to schools and charities.
But the society has become a victim of its own success and has found that its existing track struggles to deal with public demand at open days, member Gordon Winder said.
“More people are turning up than we can comfortably handle,” he said, and added the group then decided to extend the track.
“The aim was to run longer and more powerful trains over a longer distance,” Mr Winder said.
Non-profit making
Having got the water company on board and in agreement to lease further land, the plans looked set to steam ahead when neighbours showed support for them, many taking up an invite for a free ride.
But they hit a snag in the shape of the newt, classed as a European Protected Species.
Mr Winder added: “We have consulted very widely. There was no serious objection from the locals.
“The fly in the ointment was the possible Great Crested Newt sighting, so Surrey Wildlife Trust said we should carry out a survey. But a full ecological survey was going to cost thousands.”
This would have been too much to afford for SSME, a non-profit making club which charges for rides only to pay for coal, water and other costs.
“About 18 months ago the water company, which has been very co-operative, built a replacement water main for which they had to carry out an ecological survey,” Mr Winder added.
“They agreed we could quote from the original survey and it concluded there was no problem.
“We don’t think there are any [Great Crested Newts] there but I can’t say that because I’m not an ecologist.”
Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group also reported finding none in a brief investigation earlier this year, and Surrey Wildlife Trust conservation officer Ken Anckorn said the survey appeared to show no problems on wildlife grounds.
“What we were doing was advising the local authority that there might be a Great Crested Newt on that site,” he said. “It’s part of normal checking.”
Mr Winder added: “All we want to build is a miniature railway. It’s not exactly a main line. It has been an exhaustive process but luckily many of our members are retired and have time.
“If we do get permission it’s going to take quite a while. It’s not something you can knock up in your back yard overnight. We are looking at between two and five years before it is in operation.”
The society’s next open days are on December 11 and 12 between 10.15am and 4pm.