I WRITE to express my absolute delight that finally Wellington will get its long dreamed of rail station.
I welcome the Chancellors’ recognition of the fact that since all the complicated ground work and planning had been done for this station, it would have been madness not to agree the final step in allocating the very last tranche of public funds to build the station which the previous government had committed to.
Politics is a tumultuous business and like it or not one needs a thick skin.
Nevertheless, it was surprising that the Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington failed to mention the many years of dedicated work carried out by my office with the support of the previous Government to make the Wellington station a reality.
While the idea of a station in the town had been talked about for decades, it was the priority the Conservative government gave to opening new stations, with funding to support those making a convincing business case, that catalysed action here.
READ MORE: Send YOUR letter to the Somerset Leveller
The success of the project is testament to the hard work and determination of so many people for over nine years, among them: GWR, Network Rail, the Local Enterprise Partnership, local councils including Wellington Town Council, the Parliamentary team and indeed support from the whole town, thousands of whom signed my petition and attended the public meeting I held to gauge interest back in 2016.
This phenomenal effort means that what was once a pipe dream is now a reality and I am certainly proud to have had the chance to play my part.
It will be a tremendous boost to the town of Wellington.
REBECCA POW
MP for Taunton Deane 2015–2024
Taunton
READ MORE: Wellington station work entering “exciting phase”, says MP
Gideon Amos, left, ousted former Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, right, at the 2024 general election. Picture: Paul Jones/Somerset Leveller
In response to the letter from ex MP Rebecca Pow. Gideon Amos has previously made note of the work done to get the rail station at Wellington noticed and talked about to gain the funding required for the first tranche during her tenure. However, to keep seeking kudos for the project now seems disingenuous and a case of sour grapes. Gideon Amos has campaigned hard both before his election and during the first year of his tenure, presumably having meetings either the stakeholders and Ministers to get it to the stage we are at now.