OKERAIL representatives put the case of how North Cornwall and West Devon would benefit from the reinstatement of the rail line to Okehampton at last week’s Great Western Railway (GWR) Stakeholder conference.

Dr Michael Ireland, vice chair of OkeRail, and Rev Cllr Mike Davies, chair of OkeRail, attended the conference on December 4 at the Queen Elizabeth centre in London, where findings from the Centre for Economic and Business Research were presented, which they said showed a clear link between urban and rural deprivation in the South West peninsula and remoteness from the rail network.

The research demonstrated that better rail services provided economic opportunities for people and places.

They said they felt these conclusions are ‘very significant’ for people living in the market and coastal towns of West Devon and North Cornwall. Bude, Launceston and Holsworthy have no easy access to the national rail network.

Dr Ireland said: “The re-establishment of the line to Okehampton will serve as a crucial life line to businesses, and provide access to employment in Exeter, Plymouth and London for locals.”

Both Dr Ireland and Rev Cllr Davies took every opportunity in the question and answer sessions at the conference to put the case for West Devon and North Cornwall. Dr Ireland asked for a more specific commitment to the vital ‘rail artery’ to the sub region, saying: “We have heard several times about “trains around Exeter but no specific mention of Okehampton as a potential rail hub.”

Cllr Mike Davies reinforced this point saying: “The research presented to us shows the rural areas of West Devon and North Cornwall are economically deprived areas and would benefit tremendously with good rail connections. The much needed daily passenger service from Okehampton to Exeter improves not only connectivity to the wider rail network but will provide an economic return for the people of West Devon and North Cornwall. What more can be done to highlight our case?”

In response Matthew Galton, commercial development director for GWR, was very supportive, saying: “We are here as the servants of economic and social change.”

Dr Ireland said Mark Hopwood, managing director of GWR, offered OkeRail good advice, that they ‘need to recognise we are competing with other regions in the UK all of which are making the case for their lines. Need to assemble ourselves [OkeRail] behind strong arguments’.

Following the conference, a GWR spokesperson told the Post: “We recognise the benefits of the Okehampton line to the region and the communities, which is why we will continue to work closely with OkeRail to bring about positive change for Devon and Cornwall where we can.”

OkeRail is urging councils and businesses in the North Cornwall and West Devon area to respond by February 21 2018 to the Department for Transport consultation on the future of the GWR franchise, available at: www.gov.uk/government/news/the-future-of-the-great-western-franchise

Campaigning to reconnect Bude and Holsworthy to the national railway network, initially via Okehampton is the primary aim of the Connect Bude group.

Chair of the group, Richard Wolfenden-Brown, said: “Connect Bude is delighted to hear all the positive noises coming from the government with regard to reopening the rail line to Exeter from Okehampton, initially via a trial service. We look forward to confirmation of a start date.

“Our colleagues at OkeRail never miss an opportunity to stress the importance to Bude, Holsworthy and the whole of North Cornwall and West Devon of improved public transport connectivity. We encourage individuals and groups to take part in the Department for Transport’s Community Rail Consultation, which particularly wants to hear from ‘communities not currently served by community rail services but where community rail might develop in the future’.

“The document states ‘Supporting a sustainable expansion of the railway network into local communities is an important step in achieving socio-economic growth’.

“Connect Bude will liaise with colleagues in Okehampton and add our voice to this important consultation.”