Corsham Station - Lib Dem MP urges Government Minister to meet local campaigners

10.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th May 2005

Lib Dem MP for Bath, Don Foster, today raised the plight of Corsham railway station with Transport ministers.

Mr. Foster enquired: "When Corsham station in Wiltshire will be reopened; and if he will make a statement."

He then said: "I thank the Minister for that disappointing reply. The hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray), who also cares passionately about this issue but cannot be in his place, will be equally disappointed. Is the Minister aware that a large number of car commuters drive from Corsham into my constituency, adding significantly to congestion? Is he aware that there was a plan to reopen the station, with the funding in place and all local authorities supporting it, but that it was scrapped? Now the rail utilisation study will seemingly put high-speed inter-city trains above any commuter trains, but surely that should be reconsidered. Will the Minister at least agree to meet a small delegation of people concerned about the issue, to see if they can persuade him to put pressure on the Strategic Rail Authority to change its mind?

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[The full exchange in the Official Record]