Not keen on the likely destruction of a rather pleasant meadow next to the Railway at Sandy Lane (aka Whiskey Trail) Crossing near Bishops Lydeard. It seem permission has been granted to build a whopping great solar panel "farm" in the field, complete with CCTV-topped eight-foot high black metal fence.

The original planning application seem to suggest WSR's "Chief Executive" (don't think WSR has one?) is happy with the proposals. And I thought the WSR was all about providing the heritage experience?

The heritage ambience offered by the rather photogenic post and wire fence on the west side of the line from Whiskey Trail Crossing to Greenway Wood, will be destroyed when replaced by a 2m high black metal security fence. Yuk! It'll seem like a prison boundary fence. Not what is wanted next to a heritage railway.

Furthermore, although I cannot see a reference in the planning docs, I reckon the superb heritage GWR kissing gate (and the adjacent and larger crossing gate) on the down side of Whiskey Trail Crossing would be swept away and replaced by some modern 2m high gateway.

These historic artefacts provide the perfect and appropriate backdrop to the railway.

Please leave the fence and crossing as it is and build your prison-like fence within your own land.

(top picture is a mock-up of what it could look like; compare with as-is picture underneath it)