Full-Steam Ahead For Grove Rail Station

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 16th Oct 2007

Vale Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision of the Council's Development Control committee to approve plans for a new railway station at Grove. Local Liberal Democrats have called for many years for a station near Grove to be reopened, following its closure in 1964.

The aspiration to re-open a station for Grove was agreed in the Vale's Local Plan to 2011, but was opposed by the Vale's opposition Conservative Party. The Local Plan is intended to set out the needs for future developments, including public transport provision for any new housing and business development and the new railway station will help to improve Grove's sustainability in the long term.

The decision to grant outline planning permission will allow a new station to be built, along with a car park, bus stop and pedestrian and cycling access. Road access will be from the Williams F1 roundabout north east of Grove.

Train operators currently have no plans to introduce a service for Grove so further discussions will be needed with them and with Network Rail but it is hoped that, now that planning permission has been granted for the new station, the scheme will be considered viable.

Wantage and Grove Councillor Zoe Patrick said: "I welcome the news that the new station for Grove is one step closer to becoming a reality. This has been a long-term aspiration for residents locally and Liberal Democrats have campaigned for the station over a number of years. We now need to call for action from national government and the County Council to ensure investment to secure future rail services are provided there"

Councillor Jim Moley said: "The decision to grant outline permission for a new station for Grove is very welcome. Wantage and Grove will face many challenges as both communities grow in coming years and I have long called for better public transport provision for this area. A new railway station would be a tremendous boost to local business and it will almost certainly reduce the pressure on our roads."