A MEETING has taken place in Parliament with the secretary of state for transport, Heidi Alexander, to discuss the project to reopen Wellington and Cullompton Stations.
It was arranged at the request of MPs Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrats, Taunton and Wellington) and Richard Foord (Liberal Democrats, Honiton and Sidmouth) whose constituencies host the respective station sites.
They were able to present the benefits of the scheme including its 3.67 benefit cost ratio according to treasury rules, understood to be the best such rating of any station project in the country.
The stations project remains under review following the ending of the ‘Restoring Your Railway’ programme last summer. The project had almost completed its detailed design stage and was due to be under construction by now.
Significant works are being contributed by the local authorities and local developers including a new access road and car park being built at Wellington by Cherwyn Developments in conjunction with Somerset Council.
Mr Amos and Mr Foord issued a joint statement after the meeting: “We made the case strongly for the project especially given the cancellation of the A358 and A303 improvements from Somerset as soon as it became clear that the previous government hadn’t allocated any funding for them.
“The secretary of state was very knowledgeable about the Cullompton and Wellington stations project.
“While she made clear she was not able to make any commitments until the spending review had concluded, she was positive in recognising the strength of the case for the project, including the third-party funding that has already been secured and the significant numbers of new homes it would unlock.
“We were pleased that her officials also confirmed the project had strong credentials.
"We will continue to press hard for it to go ahead and will not rest until these vital stations are reopened.”
Cllr Richard Wilkins, lead member for transport on Somerset Council added “Somerset Council has worked hard bringing in major funding for the Wellington Station project and the access road will soon be built as part of the linked housing development - we now need government to do its part”
The two MPs are organising a visit by local residents to London to lobby ministers on the need for the project following huge and growing public support for it to go ahead.
The Wellington Weekly News reported in August how plans for a new railway station hit the buffers as the new Labour Government announced it would not fund the £15 million project.
The station, which was initially due to open in June, 2026, was also facing an end of August deadline for £800,000 to be found to complete the detailed design within budget.
The Chancellor had announced to Parliament she was scrapping the former Government’s £85 million ‘Restoring Your Railways’ programme as she tried to close an alleged £22 billion public spending gap.