This section maps the improvements under the Hayling Billy Project.
The mayor of Havant, Councillor Leah Turner, kindly formally 'unveiled' the restored signal on the 17th October 2015. This signal was the up-home signal which was operated by lever No. 2 in the bridge signal box. It was originally installed in 1951 to replace an earlier signal. The signal is in the 'ON' condition meaning [...]
After just over a year following the signal's removal, it was time to re-install the signal. The previous day, HCC arrived on site, with a digger, to excavate the original signal site in preparation. Signal installation The work was managed by Ian Clark Restorations and carried out by S&T Cover of Eastleigh with funds provided [...]
During 2013 we established a very good relationship with the IoW Steam Railway. We secured an agreement to bring Freshwater back home for the 50th Anniversary commemoration which had to be cancelled because we could not raise the £6000 needed for the movement and the necessary security arrangements, This is the subject of another post [...]
The project entered into the 'Heritage' phase in 2014. We have recruited The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and The Spring Arts and heritage Centre (Havant) to manage some aspects of the project. TCV asked the volunteers to suggest a logo for the project. We have taken a hand drawn logo (the island and a train), and [...]
The signal post has now been sand blasted and primed. It was then loaded on a flat bed truck ready for transport from Alresford to S&T Cover at Eastleigh. The signal parts were also transported, Arrival at S&T Cover The process of procuring the missing parts and assembly now starts. All photos Ian Clark Restorations
Phase 2 works - Preparation To the left foreground is the end of the previously re-built northern link section of the Hayling Billy trail. The phase 2 upgrade of the old railway route will be in two sections (without barriers). Levels here have been established with the left hand side being prepared for equestrian use and [...]
Following our Partnership (Hampshire County Council, Havant Borough Council and Hayling’s Best (HB50) meeting, further path work has been agreed. Summary below: Having completed the 250m long rebuild of the north end of the Trail (see path improvement ), the granular material for which is presently behaving as expected, we have been able to commission a further [...]
10 June 2014 Hard on the heels of the path rebuilding, see Hayling Billy Heritage Project, the signal was removed and taken for sand blasting and priming under phase 1 of the signal restoration project. This work is being funded by the HLF with match funding from HBC & HCC as part of the Hayling Billy [...]
The following link to the Havant Borough Council website gives a good account of the Hayling Billy Trail and the objectives of the Partnership > http://www.havant.gov.uk/hayling-billy-trail/hayling-billy-trail-phase-2. Extract regarding works to the northern end of the Hayling Billy Trail in May 2014 'However as part of the Hayling Billy 50 project, matched with funding from Havant [...]
In parallel to working with community organisations to deliver a very successful series of events to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the railway, we have been working with Hampshire County Council, Havant Borough Council and the RSPB to deliver improvements on Hayling Island for both the community and visitors to the island. [...]
