Issue - meetings

Cabinet previously agreed that a High Level Option Assessment should be commissioned into the potential for reopening Saltford Station.  The initial conclusions of that report were shared at a public exhibition in May this year.  Cabinet now needs to decide if it wishes to take this project forward and, if so, in what timescale.

The Chair referred to the statements made earlier in the meeting by Phil Harding and Chris Warren relating to this agenda item.  He referred to an email he had received from David Wood of the RMT Union, in which David said that with his local knowledge, he supported the existing location for a re-opened station.

Councillor Anthony Clarke in an ad hoc statement said that his political Group supported the proposals for electrification and MetroWest, which would allow re-opening of one station.  He was keen to see progress.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson in an ad hoc statement was very pleased to see the report and hoped that, if successful, Radstock Station would be the next to re-open.

Councillor Caroline Roberts, in proposing the item, thanked both the previous speakers for their support and hard work.  She confirmed that although consultants had looked at two sites, she felt that the existing site was the optimum but nothing had been ruled out.  She told Cabinet that the previous day the Government had announced its Infrastructure Plan which had recognised the need for congestion relief to the east of Bath.  The plans being considered for Saltford Station would begin to address issues to the west of Bath.  Cabinet were actively looking at walking and cycling routes to serve a re-opened station.

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the proposal and said that it was crucial to get rail invigorated.  It would be a massive investment.

On a motion from Councillor Caroline Roberts, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To AGREE that work should continue to develop the Business Case for a station at Saltford and that this should include the option of opening a station to the west of the village where future development may support the new facility.