
Wellington and Cullompton railway stations approved
Wellington lost its station in the Beeching cuts of the mid-1960s.A project to reopen it was among dozens of transport schemes shelved last year because of financial pressures.But the council and developer West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. continued to prepare the site for the station's return.Access to the new station, which will be built off Nynehead Road, will be provided via a new development of 200 homes, which secured outline planning permission from Somerset Council last year.
The approval of Cullompton's new station, which will be built near the existing M5 services, comes on the back of agreements being signed in March to build a new relief road for the town.Mr Amos said the combined Wellington and Cullompton stations project had already received £6.15 million to complete the full business case and most of the design work.It is estimated an investment of about £45m will be needed to fully construct and delivery both stations. The government has not yet confirmed how much funding it will be providing for the project in the spending review.A Treasury spokesman said: "The spending review provides funding to support the reopening of stations at Wellington and Cullompton. Further details will be set out shortly."Mr Amos added: "If there is a need to raise further funds that is something we will look at with Somerset Council and Wellington Town Council but we'll have to wait and see the details."
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