David Laws

Liberal Democrats | Yeovil

LAWS TO PRESS FOR MINISTERIAL MEETING OVER CHARD JUNCTION

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, is this week writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, pressing for a meeting about the re-opening of Chard Junction Railway Station. This follows a lobby of local residents at David’s Advice Centre in Chard on Saturday. The lobby was led by Tatworth and Forton Councillor, Andrew Turpin.

David Laws MP said:

“I was very impressed indeed by the number of people who came out early on Saturday morning to lobby me about the re-opening of Chard Junction Railway Station.

“I was also impressed by the powerful arguments which were put forward for this station to be re-opened.

“More and more people want to travel by train, and the huge leap in fuel prices can only increase demand. Chard and its catchment area has a large and growing population, and we need a local railway connection to help people to travel.

“The Government is rightly trying to encourage more people to leave their cars at home – but they need a viable public transport system if this is to be made a reality. This would mean not just re-opening the station, but providing a bus link to the station from Chard itself.

“People should not need to get in their cars to drive to Crewkerne or Axminster, where in any case the car parks are getting increasingly congested.

“With the new Chard Key Site development due soon, there could also be many more people wanting to use the train in our area.

“There is also a very strong case for taking a decision about this matter soon, to make sure that it can be factored into the work programme relating to the upgrading of the local line to dual track.

“I am therefore this week writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, to press for a ministerial meeting to discuss the possibility of re-opening the station at Chard Junction. I will want to work closely with my colleagues on Somerset County Council, including the Leader – Jill Shortland – and with South Somerset District Council.

“I am very grateful to all those who came to see me on Saturday, and to Andrew Turpin, who has been a determined campaigner on this issue for many years now.”