The Brit Valley Railway was conceived as a narrow-gauge steam railway by three local business men, Ken Caldwell, David Negus and Simon Brody. The railway was intended to be an all-weather attraction for Bridport and West Bay, thus supporting the tourism and leisure industry of West Dorset which is so important to the well-being of the area.

The first meeting of the fledgling company was held in Bridport on the 7th September 1995 and amongst other things it was resolved that a Public Consultation Questionnaire should be produced to gauge demand for the railway. This was drafted, agreed and four thousand copies printed up and distributed to forty or so shops and offices in Bridport and West Bay in early October 1995.

A public exhibition of the preliminary route plans was held in Bridport Town Hall on the 7th October 1995 and the local press and radio gave excellent coverage. The local comprehensive school, Bridport Colfox School, also dispatched students to carry out their own survey, and the Business Studies department is shadowing our progress.

The response to the questionnaire was tremendous with over one thousand forms being completed and returned. It was clear that the railway would not only be seen as a tourist attraction (replies came from twenty counties), but as a means of transport for shopping, school and work.

Buoyed on the enthusiasm, meetings were held with the eleven land-owners on the provisional route and approvals, in principle, sought. More detailed plans were prepared and as many statutory authorities as possible were consulted. Again results were encouraging.

We then decided to 'go for it' and submitted an Outline Planning Application on 9th December 1995. No detailed design work had been done so approval would have been impossible but the Western Area Planning Sub-Committee of West Dorset District Council, supported by all the statutory authorities, on the 25th January 1996 gave as much as we could possibly have hoped for - approval 'in principle'.

Prior to this, however, on 19th December 1995 a meeting had been called to agree the roles of the three promoters. Ken Caldwell was nominated as Chairman and Director, David Negus as a Director and Simon Brody as a Director and Company Secretary, of a company which would be known as the Brit Valley Railway Limited. The first formal meeting of the Company was held on the 31st January 1996 at St. Michaels Trading Estate, Bridport. A bank account was opened and an accountant engaged.

A brochure has been published containing an illustration of the railway, descriptions of the railway and its objectives and statements of support. The public were invited to make donations at an exhibition in South Street, Bridport with the object of building a fund of privately raised money. This attracted a tremendous amount of positive support. We will apply for grants (mostly match-funded) to establish financial reserves which will allow us to complete the negotiations and design work and apply for orders under The Transport and Works Act 1992. Design work and negotiations with land owners still continue.

The public exhibition has been relocated to the Harbour Museum, West Bay.