The petition of Residents of the constituency of Wantage and Didcot,
Declares that Grove station should be re-opened, further that this is required due to the growing population in the local area; notes the economic benefits of improving connections to local businesses; notes the environmental benefits; and further notes the social benefits of ensuring people in the local area are better connected to friends and family.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to ensure that Grove station is reopened.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Official Report, 7 February 2024; Vol. 745, c. 1P.]
[P002914]
Observations from The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Huw Merriman):
I am grateful to see the continued support for the potential reopening of Grove station among residents in Wantage and Didcot.
A bid for Wantage and Grove station was made to the second and third rounds of the restoring your railway (RYR) ideas fund. The bid proposed opening a new Wantage and Grove station around the site of the former Wantage Road station on the electrified Great Western main line between Didcot Parkway and Swindon. Unfortunately, the bid was unsuccessful, and detailed feedback was provided to stakeholders in October 2021.
Whilst there are no further RYR funding rounds planned by my Department, the Government believe that local authorities and local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are best placed to decide on, and take forward, transport schemes that will most benefit their local areas. I encourage campaigners to engage with these bodies and work together to bring forward a revised bid to be considered for development under an alternative source of funding.