CAMPAIGNERS fighting to reopen a former railway station near Chard have vowed to continue their 24-year crusade despite a major setback.

Hopes of restoring Chard Junction hit the buffers this week after land surrounding the station was sold at auction to a fuel distribution firm.

The 3.14-acre goods yard, on Station Road, was bought for £182,500 by coal merchants Ron Darch and Sons, trading as Darch Oil, which had previously leased it from the British Rail Residuary Board.

The move could derail plans to turn the site into a public transport hub, which would incorporate a bus interchange to link to Chard and parking for up to 30 cars.

But Chard Junction supporter Cllr Andrew Turpin, who represents Tatworth and Forton at South Somerset District Council, has played down reports of a stalemate.

He said: “I don’t think the situation is as dire as some people are predicting.

“The site itself is protected in the South Somerset Local Plan, so nothing can be done without the permission of the planning authority.

“I am not going to give way over this and will continue to campaign for the sake of future generations.”

The land was originally scheduled for auction in December last year after Somerset County Council rejected the chance to buy it for £330,000.

But it was withdrawn following intervention by MP David Laws, who sought the backing of Transport Minister Andrew Adonis.

It was re-offered to the authority for £150,000 in February but dismissed for a second time as a poor use of public funds.

A county council spokesman said: “Despite our many representations for the land to remain in rail ownership, Somerset County Council is disappointed that the land has been sold off. The reopening of a rail station at this location is a stated long-term aspiration of the council in its current Local Transport Plan.

“However, there is no agreed business case demonstrating that the reopening of the station would be a viable proposition and there is no funding allocated for development or construction of such a scheme.”

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