Secretary of State for Transport The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin made a special visit to Taunton Rail Station on Thursday June 12th at the request of Prospective Conservative MP Rebecca Pow to see for himself why a dramatic up-grade of Taunton Rail Station is so vital and how this will stimulate the largest regeneration project in the South West on the adjacent Firepool site.
The £4.6 million station Masterplan which has the backing of Network Rail and First Great Western, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council, will re-orientate the station turning the access around to face the Firepool area of Taunton. Better passenger facilities, improved parking, a public transport interchange and new commercial, residential and retail developments are all linked to the project. A bid for £4.6m funding has been submitted by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and decisions will be announced imminently. It is part of an overall £22 million plan for Taunton which will be triggered once the initial funding has been secured.
"It was wonderful to welcome the Secretary of State to Taunton to view the site and to see the detailed proposals that will transform this area. He was on a fact minding mission to analyse wider transport links in the West and this dovetailed brilliantly. I hope that the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin now appreciates that if we could unlock the initial funding it will pave the way for a much larger regeneration project in Taunton. This will enable the town to cope with the predicted 40% increase is rail use here within in the next 6 years and will also confirm Taunton as the gateway to the South West" said Rebecca Pow.
Adressing the crowd of local business people that turned up to support the plan The Secretary of State explained: was delighted to attend this meeting with Rebecca Pow and attended by a wide range of local business people all showing support for the project:
"Improving infrastructure is a key to the future and vital in enabling the economy to continue to grow as well as improving quality of life. I’m delighted our candidate in Taunton invited me down, I’ve been looking at all pinch points along the A303 and A358 and am pleased to have had the opportunity to consider the plans you have proposed here in Taunton. Growth in rail use is phenomenal and improving the rail experience for people is high on my agenda."
Taunton Rail Station is on the main rail line between Bristol and Exeter and a key centre when flooding occurs to the north and south of Taunton or when maintenance works are in progress. Journey time to London is just 90 minutes.
Speaking at the event Leader of Taunton Deane Council, John Williams explained that the Council was fully backing the station plans: ‘"securing this project will benefit not just Taunton but the whole of the West Country and at the same time consolidate the town in its position as the county town of Somset."