A NEW community engagement officer has been appointed at the West Somerset Railway - just days after details emerged of three roles being axed at the charity.

The West Somerset Railway Association and the West Somerset Railway PLC have announced the appointment of Catherine Dance to the role.

The post, designed to foster closer links between the Railway and local communities, is a two-year appointment paid for by a grant from the Hinkley Point C Community Fund managed by the Somerset Community Foundation.

Paul Whitehouse, WSRA chairman said: “Our community links are really important to us.

"I am sure Catherine will make a great contribution to the life of our railway and strengthen its relationship with all our local communities.

"I must also pay tribute to West Somerset Railway volunteer Andy Norman who worked for over a year to achieve the successful application to the Hinkley Point C Fund for this project.

"It would not have been achieved without his hard work.”

READ MORE: Three roles axed at West Somerset Railway

Catherine lives in Bishops Lydeard and has worked in the Devon School Library Service and for the National Trust on membership and volunteer retention.

She was appointed as a result of a competitive interview process conducted by a panel made up of Mark Smith, WSR PLC director; Paul Whitehouse, WSRA chairman and Katherine Nolan, director of Spark Somerset.

The panel were pleased to note that they had a choice between three eminently appointable candidates and Catherine was the strongest candidate.

The appointment comes just days after your County Gazette reported three roles were being axed at WSR, which is currently closed amid changes after problems identified in a safety inspection last year.

Photograph: Catherine Dance at Bishops Lydeard Railway Station.