Government will fund Cullompton railway station

On/off plans are on again

Two south west MPs have claimed a hard-fought victory in relation to a funding pledge for railway stations in two towns in Devon and Somerset.

Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat member for Honiton and Sidmouth, and colleague Gideon Amos, the Taunton and Wellington member, had been hoping the chancellor Rachel Reeves would mention cash for the reopening of Cullompton and Wellington railway stations in her spending review, but were disappointed by the time she left the despatch box having not mentioned the projects.

But Mr Foord has now said the Treasury has confirmed to him that funding would be allocated to the two projects.

Some other local politicians suggested more caution, though, given funding had been pledged for the project before, and then the scheme had been shelved due the change in government after the 2024 general election.

Cllr James Buczkowski, who represents Cullompton on Devon County Council and is also a Mid Devon District Council councillor, said he was “really pleased” the two MPs had continued their fight for the stations, but noted he was “cautiously optimistic”.

“It’s fantastic that we have two MPs who have tirelessly fought for these stations but it was disappointing that the government was not very explicit about the funding for the infrastructure that Cullompton needs,” he said.

“I will wait for the formal announcement from the Department for Transport to see what that entails, and until contracts are signed with them, like they have been with the Cullompton town centre relief road, I won’t get too excited.”

He added it was positive news the funding seemed to be available, but noted that it had been announced and withdrawn previously.

“Until I see wet ink on paper, I’ll hold my celebrations for now,” Cllr Buczkowski said.

Mr Foord has previously argued that the reopening of Cullompton station is vital to make the forthcoming development of around 5,000 homes at Culm Garden Village more sustainable.

“It has been a long campaign over many years, with hundreds of people determined to secure this historic outcome,” Mr Foord said in a statement after claiming to have secured confirmation of the funding from the Treasury.

“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.”

Mr Foord added that Mid Devon District Council had put together an “irrefutable business case for the reopening of the station.

The MP added the new station would mean residents could “beat congestion in the town”, a reference to Cullompton’s virtually daily queues that form at the town’s junction 28 of the M5.