Cullompton railway station ‘scrapped’ by government, Devon Lib Dems claim

Letter from rail ministers suggest proposals won't be funded

A plan to reopen Cullompton railway station appears to have hit the buffers after claims by Devon’s Liberal Democrats that the new government is scrapping the scheme.

Richard Foord, MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, said he had spent two years pressing the previous government to re-open Cullompton station, and that he had been hopeful Labour would honour the scheme.

Mr Foord had been reassured by comments made in parliament last month by Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, that “projects that have already started… will go ahead”.

Ms Reeves was responding to a question from fellow Lib Dem Gideon Amos, the MP for Taunton and Wellington, who had asked about the prospects of Wellington’s railway station scheme going ahead.

But Lord Hendy the minister for rail, has now written to both MPs and, according to the pair, has stated the re-opening of Cullompton and Wellington stations would not be funded. He offered “only a vague commitment to ‘attempt to consider’ the two projects” as part of the wider review of government-backed transport initiatives.

“I’ve seen the hard work and dedication that has gone into helping get things off the ground [in regards to Cullompton station], yet now we find out that, despite direct promises from the chancellor in the House of Commons, the Department for Transport (DfT) may be seeking to quietly side-line the project,” Mr Foord said.

“The re-opening of stations at Cullompton and Wellington are vital to ensuring our railways serve the needs of our communities.

“People have had enough of hollow promises. The chancellor must honour her word and press the DfT to release the funding for the re-opening of these vital commuter stations.”

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat, Bradninch) the leader of Mid Devon District Council, echoed Mr Foord’s disappointment.

“Infrastructure investment is essential for Mid Devon’s planned new homes, to the east of Cullompton, at the proposed Culm Garden Village,” he said.

“Homes cannot happen without infrastructure investment like the railway station or the Cullompton town centre relief road.

“We welcomed our new government’s commitment to people and homes, but now, following the abandonment of the station, there must be serious questions on the commitment to the relief road and the new  junction 28 replacement on the M5.”

A spokesperson for the DfT pointed to a statement last month by Louise Haigh, secretary of state for transport, that she is commissioning a review of the department’s capital spending portfolio – essentially cash earmarked for large projects.

“We will bring in external expertise and move quickly to make recommendations about current and future schemes,” Ms Haigh told parliament.

“This review will support the development of our new long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, and ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time.”

She added there had been a “gap between promised schemes and the money available” and a “lack of openness with the public about the status of schemes”.