Mel Stride MP has sought help from Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP in pressing Great Western Railway over the feasibility study for a regular rail service between Okehampton and Exeter via Crediton. During a meeting with Mr Heaton Harris last week Mel urged him to ensure the “valuable momentum” gained in recent years is not lost. The discussion followed a meeting Mel held with the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps MP last month where he obtained an assurance that the Department for Transport would respond to the consultation as quickly as possible after completion.
Mel said:
“While I appreciate projects of this magnitude often take longer than anticipated, the continued wait for the feasibility study to be completed and submitted to the Department for Transport is a growing concern. The case for this new service is crystal clear – from its economic benefits to its environmental benefits – and we need to know whether there are any obstacles to the service going ahead, and if there are, how we can address them.”
