I have written to the Department of Transport to fully endorse the submission of the Great Western Specification Consultation by TransWilts Community Rail Partnership.
They have the best interest of the community at heart and put in a huge amount of detailed work and research and produced an excellent summary of the community’s view.
As the prospective member of Parliament for the area, I have spent time meeting and talking to local residents about the issue and hundreds have signed my online petition. The response has been a unanimous desire to retain the current service. Residents have expressed concerns over the impact on local businesses and the impact on local traffic.
In the new franchise document for the TransWilts line I want to see it clearly set out that there are at least 16 stopping trains per day. There is the demand and our community are using the service. In fact we have seen a six times increase in passenger numbers.
The service is helping support local businesses and attract new ones into our town. It also gives local residents the option of public transport which should start to help reduce congestion. We must not go backwards but forwards.
I have urged the Department to back Wiltshire and local business by retaining the full TransWilts rail service.
Michelle Donelan, Prospective MP for Chippenham.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here