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New Somerset railway station gets green light as HS2 scrapped

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NewsTrains could start calling at the town from September 2025somersetliveSomerset's newest railway station will be "funded to delivery" after the government announced it was scrapping HS2. Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Wednesday (October 4) that the hugely over-budget rail project would not be continued beyond Birmingham, freeing up more than £36bn for other transport projects. While the majority of this funding will be reallocated to schemes across the north and the Midlands, £6.5bn has been set aside for the rest of UK, including numerous new or existing projects in the south west. As part of the prime minister's announcement, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that Wellington railway station will go ahead, with a view to trains running to and from the town by September 2025. Somerset West and Taunton Council and Mid Devon District Council put together plans to reopen both Wellington and Cullompton railway stations, which both closed during the infamous Beeching cuts of the mid-1960s. The new Wellington station will be constructed a stone's throw from the Nynehead boat lift, with the access road to the recently completed Lidl supermarket on Nynehead Road being extended up to the railway line. READ MORE: Somerset park and ride could see 150 new homes built down the road READ MORE: New Taunton and Wellington constituency is "non-priority" for Labour at the next general election David Northey, a retired strategic planner with Network Rail, indicated at an event in May that the station would initially be served by trains every two hours as part of the Great Western Railway (GWR) service between Exeter St. David's and Cardiff Central. However, he said this will likely increase to once per hour as demand grows, citing the success of the recently-reopened Okehempton station on the northern edge of the Dartmoor national park. Rail minister Huw Merriman MP confirmed the project's success in a letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, published shortly after the speech at the Tory party conference. He said: "Further to today's announcement, I am delighted to be able to confirm that the project will be funded to delivery, subject to future updates to the project business case.Join Somerset Live’s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone Somerset Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we’ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone. To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Somerset Live team. We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like. To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Click here to join our WhatsApp community."The project is currently at the design stage, working towards the development of a final business case later this year. Further updates will be provided to you in due course." The new station is expected to cost £15m and will be delivered by Network Rail, which is now leading the project. While Network Rail has yet to submit a formal planning application for the station, plans were published in June for a development of 220 homes, a care home and commercial space to the south of the station site. West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. - which first consulted the public on its plans in August 2022 - intends to deliver the extended access road as part of this development, which forms part of the wider Longforth Farm allocation within the Taunton Deane Core Strategy. The development will also deliver new car parking near the station, a new park being provided south of the station, and pedestrian and cycling links being provided from Lillebonne Way and Taunton Road. Somerset Council confirmed that a decision on these plans was likely to be taken before the end of the year to ensure the project kept to its intended time-scale. A spokesman said: "The full business case for Wellington railway station is nearly complete. Following this, it will go through the usual processes to get signed off by the DfT. The government's announcement implies that the full cost of delivering the station will be met from DfT funding. "A decision on the application for Longforth Farm (surrounding the station) is expected by the end of the year. We are expecting to receive a planning application from Network Rail early next year for the station itself. "The current forecast is for the station to be operational by September 2025." The news has been warmly received by Rebecca Pow MP, whose Taunton Deane constituency includes Wellington. She said: "This is what we have all been working on for many years and to receive this news is tremendous, not just for the local people of Wellington, but it will bring much needed prosperity to the area through this extra connectivity. It will benefit businesses, their employees and especially the many people accessing educational establishments up and down the line, not to mention improving congestion on the roads and reducing pollution. "This announcement means that what started as a dream has now become a reality thanks in particular to a government prioritising opening new rail stations in the right places." Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for transport and digital, welcomed the announcement on his official Facebook page, stating: "I'm really pleased to see that the government has confirmed funding for Wellington railway station, a project that I’ve worked on for the last four years. "The project has been led and funded by Mid Devon District Council and Somerset West and Taunton Council. Thanks to all the staff and members at the county, district and town councils, Network Rail, GWR, Cherwyn Developments, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. "[I'd also like to thank] the three MPs who have supported the project - Rebecca Pow, Neil Parish and Richard Foord - and everyone else involved. Great teamwork."Follow&nbsp;SomersetHS2 axing gives new Somerset railway station the green lightTrains could start calling at the town from September 2025Cadbury ends production of one of its bars after fall in demandUK &amp; World NewsCadbury bosses said that they have chosen to 'delist' the barHighway Code rule over lights leaves drivers facing £1,000 fineTraffic &amp; TravelIt can be a dangerous and costly mistakeBristol Airport parking warning as changes come into forceBristol AirportBristol Airport is making significant changes to its car parks from Thursday, October 5.Westcountry town wakes up to massive 333-metre cruise shipFalmouthThe cruise ship is capable of carrying almost 4,000 passengersTraffic &amp; TravelA370 crash in Somerset leaves biker critically woundedThe driver was taken to hospital after colliding with a bollard on the A370 near BrockleyM5 traffic live: Shed load brings traffic to a halt - updatesM5Traffic is expected to build on the M5 ahead of 'unseasonable' weather conditions this weekendDine-and-dash pair pay bill after doing runner from West Country pubIn the NewsThe duo phoned up to settle their debts after a social media appealSpandau Ballet star Martin Kemp to pop into Somerset attractionWeston-super-mareVisitors will no doubt spot himHS2 axing gives new Somerset railway station the green lightSomersetTrains could start calling at the town from September 2025SomersetHS2 axing gives new Somerset railway station the green lightTrains could start calling at the town from September 2025Cadbury ends production of one of its bars after fall in demandUK &amp; World NewsCadbury bosses said that they have chosen to 'delist' the barHighway Code rule over lights leaves drivers facing £1,000 fineTraffic &amp; TravelIt can be a dangerous and costly mistakeBristol Airport parking warning as changes come into forceBristol AirportBristol Airport is making significant changes to its car parks from Thursday, October 5.Somerset town's pub and beer garden could be turned into housesPubsDevelopers say the new homes will reflect the character of the existing housing in the townTraffic &amp; TravelA370 crash in Somerset leaves biker critically woundedThe driver was taken to hospital after colliding with a bollard on the A370 near BrockleyM5 traffic live: Shed load brings traffic to a halt - updatesM5Traffic is expected to build on the M5 ahead of 'unseasonable' weather conditions this weekendButlin's Minehead cancels further holidays as resort continues to repair flooding damageSomersetA small number of accommodation units were closed by the resortDine-and-dash pair pay bill after doing runner from West Country pubIn the NewsThe duo phoned up to settle their debts after a social media appealSpandau Ballet star Martin Kemp to pop into Somerset attractionWeston-super-mareVisitors will no doubt spot himTop StoriesSpandau Ballet star Martin Kemp to pop into Somerset attractionWeston-super-mareVisitors will no doubt spot himSomerset town's pub and beer garden could be turned into housesPubsDevelopers say the new homes will reflect the character of the existing housing in the townDecision due on development that could 'urbanise' Somerset villageSomersetCouncillors will decide whether to grant planning permission on WednesdayHolly Willoughby under guard after kidnap threatUK &amp; World NewsThe This Morning star pulled out of hosting the show as a man was arrested'Glastonbury feud' led to council worker being fatally shot at homeGlastonbury FestivalA jury at Liverpool Crown Court today (October 5) heard how Ashley Dale screamed as she was chased through her home by an "assassin" in August 2022Plans for 90 more homes within major Somerset housing developmentTauntonA total of 320 homes will eventually be deliveredSpooktacular Halloween event coming to major Somerset attractionSomersetThe event includes a pumpkin trail, spooky golf and a spell-binding showEDF tried to force Westcountry woman to pay £1,118 bill she didn't oweUK &amp; World NewsLois Grayson had sent the company clear details of the final meter readings, but ended up being harassed by debt collectorsBusinessman faces jail after admitting killing sisters in horror crashTraffic &amp; TravelThe charges relate to a collision on the A361 Frome bypass in SomersetButlin's Minehead cancels further holidays as resort continues to repair flooding damageSomersetA small number of accommodation units were closed by the resortTwo charged and two more arrests in connection with Bristol riotsLocal NewsAvon and Somerset Police says 50 people have now been charged over the Kill The Bill protests which led to violent scenes in the city centre in March 2021.Free food festival with nearly 200 traders coming to Somerset this weekendFood and DrinkThe event aims to celebrate the best of Somerset's food and drink

NewsTrains could start calling at the town from September 2025somersetliveSomerset's newest railway station will be "funded to delivery" after the government announced it was scrapping HS2. Prime minister Rishi Sunak announced at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Wednesday (October 4) that the hugely over-budget rail project would not be continued beyond Birmingham, freeing up more than £36bn for other transport projects. While the majority of this funding will be reallocated to schemes across the north and the Midlands, £6.5bn has been set aside for the rest of UK,...

New Somerset railway station gets green light as HS2 scrapped

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