A bold plan to convert what is left of the former Sheppey Light Railway into a track for cycling and walking has passed its first hurdle.

Around 50 people turned up for a public meeting to hear Sheerness town councillor Linda Brinklow outline her plans to breathe new life into the 11-mile line which once linked Queenborough in the west to Leysdown in the east.

Many parts of the abandoned track are now overgrown or have been built on since it closed in December 1950 after bosses deemed it unviable.

But Cllr Brinklow is convinced there is still scope to convert what remains into a 'greenway' to open up the Island to cyclists and walkers in the same way the Crab and Winkle line has done for Whitstable. Some evidence of old stations remain and the line can still be picked out in aerial photographs.

It is not the first time the idea has been raised.

In 2007, the Green Cluster Studies for Sheppey spoke of a ‘vision’ for an east-west, off-road ‘greenway’ with ‘access for all’. The sustainable transport charity Sustrans suggested it in a 2013 report and included it in its 2020 audit. But Cllr Brinklow said: "Here we are in 2022 and still nothing has been done."

Now the 75-year-old is determined to kick-start the scheme and has compiled a list of everyone who was at the meeting to put together a team of committed campaigners.

She admits it is a long-term project which could easily stretch over a decade. The Crab and Winkle line took 25 years from start to finish.

But she has the support of Adrian Oliver, Swale council’s new officer for active travel, although he admitted there was no council cash.

He said: "It is a brilliant idea which has been brewing for a long time. But no one has done it because it's really hard to bring back to life a railway from 50 years ago.

"I love the idea. It would solve so many issues. But no one from outside will do this. It is something Islanders must do themselves.

"It is vital everyone gets behind this project if it is going to stand a chance of success.

“There needs to be a wide spectrum of interested people involved including historians, cyclists, walkers, families, artists, tourism professionals and people with skills, expertise and enthusiasm to drive the project forward.”

Among those at the meeting at Sheerness East Working Men's Club last month (Sept) were Martin and Rosemary Hawkins, of the Eastchurch Aviation Museum.

Mr Hawkins said at one stage there were 3,000 men at Eastchurch aerodrome which is why a railway line was needed to bring in supplies. He said: "This is a very difficult project. We have to work out how to get round obstacles. We need a series of schemes and then join them up.

"Luckily the old track is relatively flat, steam trains didn't like steep gradients."

Also at the meeting were Cllr Bill Tatton from Warden and Cllr Cameron Beart who represents Queenborough and Halfway.

The line had stations at Sheerness East, East Minster, Minster, Brambledown Halt, Eastchurch, Harty Road Halt and Leysdown.

It crossed Minster Road near the Harps Inn before terminating at Leysdown. The platform later became part of the Seahorse pub which was later knocked down to make way for housing and a miniature golf course.

Many old artefacts and photos from the line are now on show in a railway museum at Tenterden station which is part of the Kent and East Sussex Railway.

Both lines were owned by Holman Fred Stephens who became known as The Colonel. The son of an art critic was born on October 31, 1868 in west London and went on to become involved in 16 railways around England as Wales as an engineer, manager or director.

He began his career at 22 as an engineer of the Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Railway.

In 1916 he became a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Engineers, hence his name. He established an office in Tonbridge to manage his railway empire and died on October 23, 1931.

The Sheppey Light Railway was opened on August 1, 1901 and closed in 1950.

Cllr Brinklow said: "Restoring the Sheppey Light Railway would celebrate Sheppey’s industrial heritage and would be a new tourism attraction connecting people safely and easily across the island. The trail would enable safe carbon neutral transport like walking, wheeling and cycling."

Those interested in joining her can email her here.