Charfield station not yet a done deal warn Lib Dems

South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have given a cautious welcome to the news that the local council has submitted a business case for reopening Charfield station to the regional authority.

Commenting on the announcement, Liberal Democrat councillor for Charfield John O’Neill said:

“I welcome the news that the potential reopening of Charfield station has taken a step forward – Liberal Democrats on South Gloucestershire Council and on Gloucestershire County Council have been leading the campaign to reopen Charfield station for decades.

“Having been campaigning on this issue for a long time, I warn the current administration that submitting a business case and securing funding for the reopening of Charfield station are not the same thing. The tone of the administration’s recent publicity makes it sound like the reopening of the station has been given the go-ahead, whereas in reality there will be many more challenges to overcome before we can be sure that the station will be reopening.

“However, submitting a business case to the West of England Authority is a key milestone and I would like to pay tribute to the work of two former Liberal Democrat Councillors: Eddie Gadsby (one of my predecessors representing Charfield) and former Gloucestershire County Councillor for Wotton under Edge, John Cordwell. Without Eddie and John’s work over decades, it is unlikely we’d be where we are today."

Councillor Adrian Rush, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure on South Gloucestershire Council added:

“As always the administration talks a good game – but now we have to wait and see if they will deliver on their promises.

“Delivering Charfield station has to be a key transport priority for South Gloucestershire Council and I hope we’ll be hearing definite news that funding has been secured and that the station will be reopened before too long and that South Gloucestershire will finally be delivering on this long-held aspiration.”

Image credit: Johnlp Wikipedia