Railway operating hours at West Lancashire Light Railway, Hesketh Bank, Preston

“Application ref: 8/80/968 for "Retention of continued use of existing railway and associated buildings and to erect carriage shed" was approved on 6th February 1981 subject to six conditions.”

“Condition 5 stated: No machinery shall be operated on the premises between the hours of 18.00hrs and 08.00hrs Monday to Friday and between 18.00hrs and 10.30hrs Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays Reason: The predicted level of noise emission from the proposed development would not be acceptable to existing development in the vicinity outside normal working hours.”

“The application site approximately L-shaped and comprises an area of land to the south which contains several buildings. From this area, leading north and then to east, there is a railway track. The track runs approximately in line with the rear boundaries of the dwellings on Station Road and Becconsall Lane.”

“Access to the site is gained from Thornton Drive which is an unadopted road also serving the adjoining land to the east of the application site, which has planning permission to be used as Hesketh Bank Heritage Park, and the new Persimmon Homes residential development.”

“It is acknowledged that in practice the uses would likely not occur throughout all the stated times however the Council would have no control if indeed that did turn out to be the case. The Council could not withdraw the permission for extended hours once given.”

“It is understood that the site and its operations may benefit from the potential to operate at additional times/days to that which is currently approved however the open-ended nature of the works and the potential for the activity to take place over such an extended period of time each day is not considered to be reasonable or controlled sufficiently to persuade officers that the amenity of neighbours would not be adversely affected.”

“Whilst there in no objection to the proposals in principle this service would recommend that should consent be considered, the following noise control condition should be agreed and submitted for approved by the local planning authority prior to the commencement of the varied hours of the site.”

“To avoid noise breakout from the workshop doors shall be kept closed throughout the use of noise generating activities, were practically possible.”

“The Assistant Director Planning and Regulatory Services submitted a report on planning application 2025/0629/FUL relating to West Lancashire Light Railway, Station Road, Hesketh Bank.”

“RESOLVED: That planning application 2025/0629/FUL was deferred by officers prior to the meeting to resolve land ownership / certificate issues.”