About us

Meet Our Team

South Wessex Community Rail Partnership was incorporated in 2021 as a Community Interest Company. We are a not-for-profit organisation.

We exist to serve the communities around that part of the Heart of Wessex Line which runs from Frome to Weymouth

Our principal stakeholders are Great Western Railways, South Western Railways, Somerset Council and Dorset Council. Network Rail also support the work of the Partnership.

South Wessex CRP are members of The Community Rail Network the umbrella organisation supporting Community Rail Partnerships and volunteer station support groups.

Our small delivery team is supported by an independent Board of Directors and by representatives of our funding partners and of local communities including Town and Parish Councils along the line.

Bob Owen – Chairman

Bob has overseen the setting up on the CRP. He is a former executive in the aerospace electronics and defence industries.

His main task going forward is to set overall policies and approaches for the CRP.

He will speak up for the CRP and represent the CRP to our stakeholders, partners and to all the other bodies and organisations with whom we will have dealings concerning our communities along the railway..

He supports and provides guidance to our Community Rail Officer and has a particular interest in encouraging the residents of the communities served by our stations to make use of the Heart of Wessex line and to regard it as a lifeline to their communities and in making our stations as accessible to all as is possible.

Chantelle Bacon – Community Rail Officer

Chantelle is responsible for our day to day running and the development of our projects and activities within the South Wessex community rail partnership. Building and maintaining relationships with the volunteers, recruiting volunteers, and helping to assist and secure funding for the stations and the local community.

Chantelle has great enthusiasm for being the voice of the local communities, promoting sustainable travel, bringing the local communities together whilst supporting diversity and inclusion.
Working collaboratively with stakeholders and partnership officers in TransWilts CRP, and Severnside CRP to champion the profile of the entire Heart of Wessex Line from Bristol to Weymouth and with Purbeck CRP on the services between Dorchester and Weymouth with form part of the South West Main Line.

Chantelle brings experience of involvement in community projects, working within the community, coordinating charity events having worked for a large retail organisation as their Community Champion.