'Cross-party demand' for new Somerset train stations
Gideon Amos MP said: “The fact that so many made the four-hour journey up to Parliament showed him just how strong local support is for this project."
A delegation of 30 local representatives from Somerset - as organised by Gideon Amos MP - took the trip to Parliament yesterday (23 April) - pressing the case for new train stations in Wellington and Cullompton.
They all met with Lord Hendy - the rail minister - and were joined by MP Richard Foord, whose Honiton and Sidmouth constituency includes Cullompton.
Mr Amos and Mr Foord presented the Minister with two letters supporting the stations project - one from a cross-party group of South West MPs and one from Wellington Town Council.
Four members of the council were among the delegation.
Lord Hendy thanked the delegation for coming, making clear that he could not make any announcements before the current spending review was complete.
But he added: “I’ve been to the site for Wellington station myself and you have a strong advocate for it in Gideon who doesn’t let me forget about Wellington - I sometimes think I see him more than my wife!”
Mr Amos said afterwards: “Speaking to the Minister in front of the delegation, I was able to emphasise the cross-party nature of the support for the station and the fact that the project is set to bring £150 million in economic growth to the area.
“The fact that so many made the four-hour journey up to Parliament showed him just how strong local support is for this project.
“I was pleased the Minister acknowledged the strong support there is locally and knows that I will not stop pressing the government to sign off the final funding for this station project – a hugely economically beneficial project for the whole region.”
Mr Foord added: “"I was delighted to help host tens of residents from the West Country who travelled to London to impress on the Rail Minister how vital railway stations are for Wellington and Cullompton.
“Lord Hendy was impressed by the strength of our cross-party demand.
“We have gone all-out to get the Government to recognise how these stations in the South West can wait no longer."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are committed to delivering transport infrastructure that will boost growth and opportunity across the whole country, as part of our Plan for Change.
“The Government inherited an extremely challenging financial position, and these projects will be subject to the upcoming Spending Review.”
We're told that no decisions on the future of rail infrastructure will be taken until the Spending Review, where every single pound of taxpayers’ money will be scrutinised to ensure it delivers on the Government's Plan for Change.