Woody Bay Devon England United Kingdom - A project to restore the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is a "shining example" of how community businesses can boost the local economy, a Government minister has claimed.
 
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude made the comments during a visit to Woody Bay station on Thursday.
 
It formed part of a wider tour of the South West, where Mr. Maude spent time learning about the work of various community organizations in the region.
 
During his hour-long visit to Woody Bay, the minister was given a whistle-stop tour of the station and engine shed by Ian Cowling, who is managing the project to restore the railway.
 
Outlining the plans to reconnect the line to Barnstaple, Ian said it was hoped the railway would become "North Devon's Eden Project", attracting hundreds-of-thousands of visitors to North Devon each year.
 
It followed last year's bumper turnout, which saw 46,000 people descend on the station.
 
Responding to the plans, Mr. Maude said:  "It's brilliant, I mean what's inspiring about it is the scale. I had no idea that it's a project that's this ambitious. And people aren't daunted by it, they are inspired about it. This is being done by enthusiasts but it also has a real benefit for the local economy as well. This is an area which benefits greatly from tourism, and this place attracted 46,000 visitors last year alone."
 
The minister said during his tour of the South West he had been impressed by the work of volunteers and community groups, adding that they had much to contribute to the economy.
 
He said:  "Our long term economic plan is very much about encouraging enterprises. This is a social enterprise but actually there's a business here and it will be bringing jobs. It really seems to be a shining example of what can be done."
 
The project is being overseen by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust, which has more than 2,500 members, but is run on a day-to-day basis by Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Community Interest Company.
 
Although the company employs just over half-a-dozen people, with more than 70 volunteers regularly lending a hand, plans to expand the railway in the next few years could bring up to 100 jobs.
 
Ian said:  "The next little piece, a four-mile stretch which will be subject to a planning permission application later this year, the cost is £16 million and that will create just over 100 local jobs. Luckily, there's a rich selection of professional experience that we can and have been relying on from within our members who have helped us get to this point."
 
Among the members is Conservative Parliamentary candidate Peter Heaton-Jones, who has been working with the trust and various key figures in the area, including North Devon MP Nick Harvey, to help secure funding for the extension.
 
Mr. Heaton-Jones, who invited Mr. Maude to the station, said he was delighted by the interest he took in the project.
 
He said:  "It's very good news that Francis came, because we are both here because of our passion for this, not for any campaign reasons. I'm doing all I can to try and see what funding we can get because if they can really get this going, it will be such a difference to North Devon and tourism in the area."
 
A planning application to extend the railway by four miles is expected to be submitted in May.
 
Peter Brown.