OKEHAMPTON'S MP used a House of Commons 'Question Time' with the Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin on March 20 to press for greater investment in Devon's road and rail infrastructure.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride is eager to make progress with proposals for a new railway line from Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock and asked the Secretary of State to consider the west of Exeter route 'very seriously' and asked if he would meet in Okehampton with local business people and others 'in order to have the case for the economic advantages of that route presented to him'.

Mr Stride is working closely with Okehampton county and borough councillor Kevin Ball on the issue. Cllr Ball recently put forward a successful motion at West Devon Borough Council to formally support a line between Okehampton and Tavistock. 

Cllr Ball said: 'I very much welcome Mel's efforts in raising this issue in the House of Commons and firmly putting the option on the Government's radar.

'A second route running west of Exeter would open up a rail service for more than 25,000 people and would also reduce traffic on the A30, as I have no doubt many commuters into Exeter would prefer to use the train than their car if they had the option.'

Mel said: 'First and foremost we want the Okehampton line to go ahead so that residents in Okehampton and our surrounding rural communities can access a decent rail service.

After the terrible damage done to the Dawlish line this winter there is also a stronger economic argument now for two routes into Devon and Cornwall, something that would improve our rail resilience.'