SELRAP Newsletter Interactive 4pm 20th feb 2026 - Flipbook - Page 3
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Steady Progress
Thanks to SELRAP volunteers’ 琀椀reless
campaigning over two decades, the
reinstatement of the Skipton-Colne Line
is ready to move into the development
phase. As our cover page map shows,
this would restore a vital, 12-mile-long
“Missing Link”, into the heart of the
North’s rail network.
The sad passing of our long-standing
chair, Derek Jennings, required a late
change to our last newsle琀琀er (December
2024). I am pleased to report that, in
April 2025, we marked his two decades
of voluntary service by unveiling a plaque
at Colne Sta琀椀on (see page 4).
Louise Haigh’s sudden resigna琀椀on as
transport secretary also required a lastminute change to our last newsle琀琀er.
We quoted her replacement, Heidi
Alexander: “I will do all I can to ensure
we have a transport system that
drives economic growth, connects
our communi琀椀es and protects the
environment.”
Unfortunately, electoral churn con琀椀nues
to frustrate progress. In May last year,
only ten months a昀琀er Labour’s landslide
General Elec琀椀on victory, Reform
convincingly won control of Lancashire
County Council. Since then, a琀琀en琀椀on has
focussed on the ongoing restructuring
of local government across Lancashire,
including the possibility of an elected
mayor.
SELRAP was founded to revitalise longmarginalised communi琀椀es in East
Lancashire. This need is now greater
than ever.
The bu昀昀ers at Colne Sta琀椀on (SELRAP)
Alarming new depriva琀椀on data,
published by the Government last
October, clearly shows that poverty has
signi昀椀cantly worsened over the past 昀椀ve
years (see page 19).
Well-targeted investment is now
essen琀椀al to unlock the region’s huge
economic and social poten琀椀al.
Restoring the Skipton-Colne Line would
quickly open employment and housing
opportuni琀椀es, helping to stem steep
decline.
There are good reasons for us to remain
op琀椀mis琀椀c. In February 2025, rail minister
Lord Hendy acknowledged the project’s
“strong strategic case.”
Our scheme also fully aligns with the
vision laid out in Lancashire’s plans
for Local Transport and Growth, both
published last year.
To move this vital project forward, we
look forward to coopera琀椀ng with the
new Lancashire Combined County
Authority (LCCA), and its two Yorkshire
partners.
It is essen琀椀al to help unleash growth and
prosperity across the North of England.
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