Waterloo train service consultation missed by council

11.18.00am GMT Wed 19th Jan 2005

West Wiltshire District Council failed to respond to a government sponsored consultation on the future of rail services to London Waterloo.

The council's external scrutiny chair, Cllr Duncan Hames, made the discovery when taking part in the public consultation event on the subject in Bath on Monday 17th January.

Cllr Duncan Hames outside Bradford on Avon railway station where many local passengers board the Waterloo service, when it operates.

"I had gone along to make the case for direct services to Waterloo from West Wiltshire myself. They should be a firm requirement in the new South West rail franchise the government has proposed. I was not expecting to be told that the council hadn't even responded to the letter inviting their comments last November." Says Cllr Hames.

"I have now spoken with the Rail Passengers Committee who are conducting this consultation for the government's Strategic Rail Authority, and secured an extension so that the council can get a response in by the end of the month." He added.

"This is not the first time that the council has risked missing important opportunities to speak on behalf of local residents to defend local services. It must try harder." Concluded Cllr Hames.

The series of public meetings from London to Devon to hear the public's views about the new rail franchise included a meeting in Bath and in Salisbury, but none in West Wiltshire. The West Wiltshire Rail Users Group have now stepped in with a meeting at St Margaret's Hall in Bradford on Avon on the evening of February 11th which has the full support of the RPC conducting the consultation. Residents not willing to leave it to West Wiltshire District Council to speak for them can take the opportunity to have their say then.