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Join campaign to turn former Sheppey Light Railway line into a 'greenway' for walkers and cyclists

Volunteers are needed to join the campaign to turn the abandoned track of Sheppey's former light railway into a 'greenway' for walkers and cyclists.

The line ran from Queenborough to Leysdown, linking Sheerness East, Minster, Eastchurch and Bayview.

Linda Brinklow is looking for help to turn the abandoned Sheppey Light Railway track into a 'greenway' for cycling and walking
Linda Brinklow is looking for help to turn the abandoned Sheppey Light Railway track into a 'greenway' for cycling and walking

Organiser Linda Brinklow, who has volunteered as secretary, has organised a meeting to put together a steering group.

She said: "We need to elect a committee or steering group to take the project forward.

"We are looking for people with planning or engineering experience, someone to manage the social media and website, a chairman, treasurer, fundraiser and representatives from each of the areas where the line goes."

She added: "We also need to hear from artists, poets, historians, film makers/photographers and sports people.

"This must be a community-led project. We also need ideas for a group logo, so thinking caps on, please."

The route of the Sheppey Light Railway
The route of the Sheppey Light Railway

Those at the meeting will be shown where the original track went and see where the new 'greenway' might go to meet the needs of residents.

There will be a chance to find out about the Colonel Stephen’s Society, which was set up to honour Col Holman Stephens who created the line along with 16 others across the UK.

They included the Kent and East Sussex Railway, the Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Railway, East Kent Light Railway and Isle of Wight Central Railway.

Many parts of the abandoned Sheppey track are now overgrown or have been built on since it closed in December 1950 after bosses deemed it unviable.

Anyone interested in the project is welcome to attend.

The next meeting will be at Sheerness East Working Men’s Club, in Queenborough Road, Halfway, on Friday, November 11, at 7pm.

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