Clash with council drives Littlehampton miniature railway boss to end of the line

Colin Evans has run the Littlehampton Miniature Railway since 1997, but is locked in a battle with Arun District Council over who will own the infrastructure, which he says he has "built from nothing", when the concession expires next year.

The council says its agreement with Mr Evans requires him to maintain and replace when necessary the railway and its structures, which are owned by Arun.

He said: "Me and my wife Barbara, who died from cancer in 2003, saw an opportunity to give the town something it deserved. The railway was derelict, in a right state, but we bought it and invested a hell of a lot of money in it.

Raging for years

"And now the council are saying that they own everything. Even the shed that I built myself."

It is an argument that has been raging for four years, and one that has driven Colin, who lives in Eastergate, to want out.

"I have reached the end of my tether with it," he said.

"Even if the council did extend the concession, I don't think I would carry on. I could not trust them, not after all this."

He said that he and his wife had worked each summer, laying a completely new track, installing sleepers and laying down 110 tonnes of granite chippings, as well as building a new locomotive, Barbara.

"It was so hard going back after Barbara died," he said, "she was the engine behind the vision.

"It would be such a shame to walk away from it. It is her dream come true."

Major draw

He added that he was proud that the railway, which runs between Norfolk Gardens and Mewsbrook Park, had become a major draw to Littlehampton.

"People come every year or two from Holland and even Japan, and from all across the country. They always have a chat with me and ask about my family."

A spokeswoman for Arun said that the concession would be advertised, as is normal, when it expires.

"The council does not know anything about the railway ceasing to operate, and certainly does not want to remove it from the existing site."

Maintenance agreement

She added that the track was on site at the start of the agreement, and that the shed, that Colin claims was sold to him by the previous owner, had always belonged to the council, even though it was now a replacement.

"The licence states that 'the licensee shall at all times keep and maintain, also replacing as required, the railway and all its buildings, structures and fences erected in connection with it, in proper working order.'

"Mr Evans owns the trains, carriages, turntables and bridge. The council owns the tracks, platforms, shed and stations."

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