Here are this months minutes from our latest meeting.

Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP)
10th June, 7.30pm, at Humanity House, Matlock Meeting No.5
Attendees: Robin Greenwood, Stephen Chaytow, Mike Hancocks, John Harpur, Janet Miller, Derek Bodey, Jane Taylor, Bill Woolley
Apologies: Jean Todd, Steve Caddy, Peter Stanton, Dave Shaw, Ian Clark, Steve Jones, Robin Lumb, Kirk Martin, Suzanne Pearson, Tina Heathcote
1) Minutes from Meeting No.4 – 18th April 2019
No adjustments requested
2) Actions Arising
• Tunnel gauge
– Stone trains most likely require W6 gauge, and it was thought that this would allow double track use in the tunnels, potentially without modification
‐ An additional cross Pennine route is highly sought after, per SELRAP project findings, there is simply a lack of capacity, so “The Peaks and Dales” route will be well used.
• Websites: updated status:
‐ Railfuture: railuser group site meets initial need, directing to an online summary
‐ FDVL: Digital filing cabinet of minutes, presentations and other documents is also a
valuable reference for online searching
‐ James Wyatt – petition site
‐ MEMRAP’s own website – no progress expected until MEMRAP is funded
· Peak Rail meeting – June 13th, 2pm Darley Dale waiting room
· Publicity actions ‐ deferred till after the Peak Rail meeting
· Fund raising work deferred till after incorporation completed and bank account opened
3) Reports from Recent Meetings
· SC tabled a schedule of meetings (attached as an appendix), as a record of the work that
had been carried out by MEMRAP over the last 2 months. Discussion about:
‐ Other approaches rather than standard heavy rail construction
‐ The meeting welcomed Jane Taylor, representing the Stourbridge rail operator, who
offered creative ways of looking at the project differently, including:
‐ Interlocked slab track for reduced cost of construction. Pre‐Metro also commented
on the use of Light Rail and Tram as other options
‐ For the new Monsal Trail, the possibility of the replacement as a braided system of
routes to cater for the needs of different groups.
‐ It was noted that rerouting of paths in Devon had seen sums of around £2m allocated
for the purpose
‐ Care about overstating value of project, due to northbound aggregates and also the
Earls sidings with cement trains which cannot be usefully rerouted
‐ It was said that councils are allowed to borrow against the increase in council tax from
new dwellings
‐ Buxton does want steam to return to the town
‐ MEMRAP advisor, Nick Gallop had stated that once the basic single track structure is
in place, it is relatively easy to take out and replace with a better grade
‐ Because there is no knowledge of how much additional freight might be generated,
there is considerable doubt about the capability of the single track and passing loops
to deal with a public service of any sort.
‐ It was noted that if both HS2 and Heathrow runway 3 were cancelled, this project
might become less attractive
4) Meeting with Peak Rail, June 13th, 2pm Darley Dale waiting room
· Attendees to be RG, SC, JH, JM
· No presentation was being prepared by MEMRAP. The purpose of the meeting will be to:
(1) ListentothePeakRailproposition
(2) Negotiateasuitablejointlyagreedoutcome
5) Joint Walk on Monsal Trail with the Peak National Park.
· It was confirmed that the walk the National Park was scheduled for 19th June, Action: RG
to check details with the Park / Tim Nicholson
6) Feasibility Study (Strategic Outline Business Case or SOBC)
· LEP (D2N2) had told SC that funding is not available for an SOBC, only build work.
· The group agreed that such a cost might be a suitable crowdfunding exercise.
7) Incorporation of MEMRAP
· Companies House has changed the website for registration of CIC again (since the last meeting), adding a challenge to agree what is outstanding, to complete the incorporation
· Directors re‐confirmed as RG (subject to articles), JH and SC. Action SC: Mike Rose to be
asked on return from holiday if he would like to join the board.
· Standard patterns of retiring by rotation were preferred, with 2 x 3 year terms of office
· It is our wish to use consensus decision-making, in the model rules there is
reference to vote-taking, which we prefer not to
do. RG to speak with the regulator to clarify and amend
· Humanity House articles used as the reference set of documents
· Choice of small versus large membership. It was decided that the large membership, to
elect directors would be the preferred route to go
· Action: RG to speak with the regulator to check the approach will work,
· Action: RG to liaise with JM to ensure that this agrees with her understanding –
· Action: SC then to complete incorporation of CIC, using new online application
· Action: SC ‐ After incorporation, meeting agreed to open bank account with Triodos
· Action: SC to seek funding, either via Amber Valley CVS or Foundation Derbyshire
� No AOB: SC wishes to note that HMRC relented and agreed that no tax return was due at this time
9) Date