Stour railway talks yesterday

A meeting between representatives of staff and management of British Railways was due to be held yesterday at Cambridge for consultations on the proposed withdrawal of passenger services from the Stour Valley line.

The meeting was to have taken place in October, but it was postponed by the management.

Sudbury and Haverhill are the major towns with villages in Cambs, Suffolk and Essex which would be affected by the closure, which was included in the Beeching Plan of over two years ago.

Sixty-six

The 50 mile line extends between Shelford and Marks Tey. The closure would shut down 13 railway stations and result in the redundancy of 66 railway employees.

It has also been estimated that the withdrawal of passenger services from the line would result in an annual saving of £50,000 a year for British Railways.

At the consultations it was expected that the staff side would oppose the proposals. The retention of the passenger services is regarded as vital for Haverhill where there is considerable expansion under a London 'overspill' agreement. Similar concern is expressed for Sudbury.

By the closure of the Audley End to Bartlow branch line Haverhill has already lost its quickest rail link to London.