Miniature railway opening date postponed

One station will be named after Robert Stride, who developed Severn Beach as a tourist resort in the 1930s

The opening date for a planned miniature railway attraction in South Gloucestershire has been pushed back.

Joe Nemeth, founder of the Severn Beach Miniature Railway said the project had been "stressful" but was also now an "unstoppable force".

He had originally intended to open by Easter, but is instead aiming for July.

The postponement came as a result of council delays on the railway's planning application.

For the past few months, Mr Nemeth and his team of volunteers have been preparing the site near the promenade in Severn Beach, and a shipping container has been installed for an engine shed.

He has also been offered one of the locomotives and carriages which formerly ran on a railway in nearby Clevedon, and had been sitting in storage for 10 years.

Mr Nemeth eventually plans to build his own carriages for the attraction.

One of the stations will be named "Stride Halt", after Robert Stride, the entrepreneur who turned Severn Beach into a tourist resort in the 1930s, and who built the first railway there.

"Robert even built built the house I live in," Mr Nemeth said.

"I'd like to think he would be delighted I'm bringing this back, the resort went downhill for many years but since the Covid pandemic, people have realised what a fantastic place it is to visit.

"It's the perfect time to do something like this," he added.

The railway has acquired some of the engines it plans to run from the summer

At one point, Mr Nemeth said he considered "pulling the plug" on the project because of the stress.

"The delays have cost us money, and it has gobbled up the finance I raised for it.

"But regardless of the setback, South Gloucestershire Council are really supporting it as they can see the visitors it will bring in and the benefits to groups and young people in the area," he said.