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Share your views on the early proposals for a new railway station in Corsham

Residents and business in the Corsham area are being asked to take share their views on proposals to build a new station in the town

Published 15 July 2022
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Residents and business in the Corsham area are being asked to take a survey on their existing and possible future travel needs, and to share their views on proposals to build a new station in the town.

Wiltshire Council, Corsham Town Council and other local stakeholders are seeking feedback on the proposals, which are at an early stage of development, to create a two-platform station linking the town with services to Bath, Bristol, London or the Thames Valley.

The project has received a £50,000 grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) that will be submitted to the DfT in the autumn, and people's views and comments will be used to help shape the plans. The SOBC looks at the case for a station in the town, and why it would benefit the local area. It also needs to include evidence of support from stakeholders and the local community.

If the project passes the SOBC stage, it would then move to the Outline Business Case (OBC) stage, which looks in more detail at things such as design, planning, access, operational feasibility and demand forecasting. The final stage is the Full Business Case (FBC), and if the project passes all these key stages in a timely manner, it is estimated that work to build the new station could begin in 2026 and be completed and operational by 2028.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: Proposals for a station in Corsham are at an early stage, but this is a hugely exciting project for the town and the wider area that could attract businesses and jobs to the town, as well as provide leisure and easy sustainable commuting opportunities to Bristol, Bath, London or the Thames Valley.

We're currently working with partners, including Michelle Donelan MP, Corsham Town Council, GWR, Network Rail, TransWilts and other local stakeholders, to help shape the initial Strategic Outline Business Case for the project, and that's why we want to hear from people now, as their views will help to support this project.

As part of our council business plan, we're committed to having vibrant, well-connected communities, and a new station in Corsham would deliver on that for the people of the town and the surrounding area.

There are several steps and a number of years before we can say that this project can get the green light, but we're keen to start it off on the right track - and that's why we're seeking valuable feedback at this early stage.

Cllr Steve Abbott, Corsham Town Council Chairman said We are very pleased to be supporting the work that is being done to make the case for a new rail station for Corsham. I urge everybody with an interest in having a new station to complete the survey and help bring this vision to reality.

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