Agenda item

A period of up to 15 minutes is available to deal with issues raised by the public.   

*O&S 67         

The Chairman informed that one formal request had been received in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules from Mr Brian Lamb.  At this point, Mr Lamb read the following statement to the Committee:

“I have some rail knowledge having been a member of the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership for 20 years and I have also assisted members of Devon County Council Rail Planning Team. It is fortunate that the County Council have expended vast sums on land purchases, environmental assessments and engineering surveys for the Tavistock line.  Consequently it has been ready since 2016 to go forward for a Development Consent Order.

It is most encouraging that a National window appears to be opening with the Treasury £4.2 billion being allocated for the local public transport fund; a small part of which should support the reopening of the Tavistock and Okehampton Rail Lines.

However, this has to be supported by a business case, using the strength of Rail against car transport; the Tavistock draft timetables show journey times of under 30 minutes and this will bring in travellers to the new Dockyard Marine development and University (with about 22,500 students and staff,) it will still require bus connections at each end for other destinations.  It will also have a huge influence on tourism in Tavistock in a similar way to the reopening of the Border Railway.

The cost has increased but it still compares with other rail schemes in the UK.  For example, it will cost £30 million to repair two miles of embankment at Piddington, east of Bicester. Whether we need a track at the highest standard has been questioned, as has the expensive GRIP process of Network Rail, which can escalate costs.

I find it difficult to understand the track proposal, of a layer of tarmac, will take cycles and electric buses.  It would have to be rebuilt to road standards, which are more expensive than rail and you will still have to rebuild two bridges, Tavistock platforms and modify Bere Alston Station with the new farm road that has been planned. 

Changing vehicles at Bere Alston immediately loses all rail advantage. However, Light Rail or even use of the new ‘D’ trains (at half the normal cost should be investigated.) Remember the franchise document of GWR requires them to supply trains for both of our lines. It also means the use of local rail workshops with local replacements for vehicles out of action.

Madam Chair I am asking that you and your committee lead the Council, and the County Council, together with the Chamber of Commerce and aided by our M.P. who is already supporting both schemes, in a massive lobby to the DFT for allocation of the capital monies to the South West for our schemes.  Otherwise traffic congestion, health along the A386 corridor and pollution of our towns will require far more drastic steps in the future.

In conclusion, ‘we want our money and TAP27 is our slogan.”

During the ensuing discussion, reference was made to:-

-        alternative fuel sources (e.g. hydrogen and battery power) being investigated by the rail industry; and

-       ‘TAP27’ standing for ‘Tavistock to Plymouth in 27 minutes’.