Richard Foord MP Welcomes "significant victory" on Cullompton Station

Richard Foord MP has welcomed a “significant victory” in the fight for the reopening of Cullompton and Wellington Stations.

The scheme was thrown into doubt after the Government scrapped the ‘Restoring Your Railway’ programme last summer.

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, failed to mention the scheme in her Spending Review yesterday (Wednesday), leaving campaigners fearing the worst.

However, the Treasury confirmed on Wednesday evening that “the Spending Review also provides funding to support the reopening of stations at Wellington and Cullompton.” with further details to be announced shortly.

Richard Foord and his Liberal Democrat colleague in Wellington, Gideon Amos MP, have led calls in Parliament for the stations to be given the green light.

Their campaign included taking residents to Parliament to confront the Rail Minister and forging a new cross-party group of MPs in support of the project.

Speaking after the Spending Review, Richard Foord said:

“Today, Government saw sense and announced that the redevelopment of Cullompton railway station will go ahead.

“It has been a long campaign over many years, with hundreds of people determined to secure this historic outcome. Working alongside my Liberal Democrat colleague, Gideon Amos MP, we have raised this issue at the highest levels of government, making a strong case to the Chancellor, the Transport Secretary and the Rail Minister.”

“Mid Devon District councillors and officials put together an irrefutable business case for the reopening of the station.

“I would like to congratulate the many members of the community who have been pressing for this outcome. They should enjoy the fruits of their hard work today.

“This essential piece of infrastructure will mean that Cullompton residents will be able to beat congestion in the town, so as to travel in a faster, greener way.

“I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get us to secure this significant victory for Cullompton.”

Mr Amos added that the confirmation that the project will go ahead is “great news” for the region. He said:

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Mr Amos. “It’s brilliant that all the hard work and campaigning by local residents, standing side by side with Richard and me, has finally paid off.

“There is no other rail project in the south-west that is ready to go and could be built and completed in the next two years, as the project is so far advanced.

“It’s great news for Wellington, Cullompton and the South West as a whole."