Plans to add to the offering at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway have been unveiled — this time in Wootton.
At the western end of the Havenstreet line, the Wootton station currently has a platform, waiting room, office, toilet and a signal box, but no further attractions
Traditional railway goods shed
As part of plans to give passengers the experience of ‘going somewhere, rather than just ‘going for a ride’, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is looking to build a traditional railway goods shed and a coal yard with information boards at its Wootton stop, on Station Road.
Planning documents, submitted in an application to the Isle of Wight Council, say the building would illustrate some of the ways the railway served the local economy by carrying goods, such as milk and livestock.
Coal yard exhibit
A coal yard exhibit will also be built to demonstrate a wagon being unloaded into pens for storage, and then transported further.
It will also feature a small hut, which would have been used by a clerk to take coal orders and manage distribution.
The hut will be a salvaged and reconditioned structure that formerly stood on the Newport to Cowes line, where it functioned as a crossing keeper’s hut at Smithards Lane crossing.
Encouraging passengers to explore more
It is said there is currently little to encourage passengers of the steam railway to disembark at Wootton and explore, as displays and facilities are at Havenstreet.
To maximise the visitor experience it was desirable to provide attractions at other stations.
View the plans
To view the plans, 22/00277/FUL, you can visit the council’s planning register. The public consultation closes on 1st April.
Wootton Bridge Parish Council has supported the application, raising no objections with it.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
