Call to re-open railway station (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Call to re-open railway station

6:37am Wednesday 23rd April 2008 in

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RESIDENTS turned up in force on Saturday to lobby local MP David Laws in a bid to have the railway station at Chard Junction reopened.

Mr Laws, who is supporting the move, is this week writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, asking for her to look at the situation.The lobbying was organised by Cllr Andrew Turpin, who represents Tatworth and Forton at South Somerset District Council, and he was delighted at the turnout on Saturday, saying it demonstrated the strength of feeling about the station that closed more than 40 years ago.He believes a station would be widely used and says his views have been backed up following the recent Chard and District Public Transport Needs Survey in which 68% of respondents said they would use the train if Chard Junction was reopened.Mr Laws said: "I was very impressed indeed by the number of people who came out early on Saturday morning to lobby me about the reopening of Chard Junction."I was also impressed by the powerful arguments put forward for this station to be reopened."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 reopening the station but providing a bus link to the station from Chard itself."Mr Laws confirmed he would be writing to the Secretary of State about the matter, as well as working closely with Somerset County Council, including leader, Chard's Cllr Jill Shortland, and the 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," he added.