The third of a series of self-guided railway walks on the South Fylde Line, a Town Trail of Lytham, was launched yesterday amid blustery conditions in Lytham.
As has become tradition for the series of walks, Colin Ballard the Town Crier to the Fylde Mayor and St. Annes Town Council, ‘Cried In’ the walk at the entrance to Lytham station. Following Colin, the Mayor John Singleton gave a short welcome to the small group of hardy attendees.
Colin Ballard, Town Crier, Mayor & Mayoress John & Geraldine Singleton and Martin Keating, Northern’s Communities & Sustainability Manager shelter from the rain
Tony Ford, Chair of the South Fylde Line CRP, led the small group on a weather shortened version of the Town Trail, which points out key locations and features of historical and architectural interest.
The Mayor, who thoroughly enjoyed the experience of riding on a Class 142 ‘Pacer’ from St. Annes to Lytham said this about the new Town Trail:
“Despite the blustery conditions today we were taken on the rail journey from St Annes to Lytham and then a wonderful walk along the newly launched Railway Walk based on the Lytham Town Trail. A group of us were escorted by Cllr Tony Ford and the Town Crier, Colin Ballard, around the new walk which is littered with historical landmarks and fascinating associated tales…some true, some not maybe!! If you get the opportunity, do try one of these walks, they are incredibly interesting and encourage you to look at the surroundings in a new light. It is heartening to see the strong relationship between the ACoRP (Association of Community Rail Partnerships); CRL (Community Rail Lancashire); Friends of St Annes Stations and Heyhouses School, the latter providing much of the artwork on the Bug Hotels and Bird Boxes. If you fancy helping out the Friends of St Annes Stations then pop along to the station on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12noon, you will be made most welcome.”
This series of railway walks is designed to encourage people to travel by train along the South Fylde Line and to have an interesting walk from a station to experience some of the history and interesting landscapes along the Fylde Coast. The new Lytham Town Trail along with the two existing walks can be downloaded by visiting the Walks Pages on this website or by clicking the links below.
St. Anne’s Town Trail – Walk 1
Lytham Hall (Lytham to Ansdell & Fairhaven) – Walk 2
Lytham Town Trail – Walk 3