Fifty years after the line from Exeter to Okehampton closed in 1972, Devon County Council’s cabinet has agreed to submit a bid to the Government’s “Levelling Up Fund” for a new railway station and transport hub for the town.
Devon was unsuccessful in the first round of bids in 2021 but following a feedback session it has been incorporated in the second round. The Governments says its Levelling Up Fund is to be distributed as a capital grant for small to medium sized schemes which cover a range of transport modes and spread the bids over a wide geography covering a number of key Market Towns. The aim is also to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, cut congestion, support economic growth, and improve the safety, security and overall experience of transport users.
Working with West Devon Borough Council the County Council will submit a bid for a West Devon Transport Hub in Okehampton. The transport hub will include a new rail station close to the emerging development and the junction off the A30 to the east of Okehampton. The transport hub will enable the best use of the new rail connection to Exeter, which started operating in December 2021. Devon currently owns the necessary land. The hub will include facilities for bus connections, cycle links and facilities and electric vehicle charging at the car park. The aim is to provide an interchange for Okehampton and the rural hinterland stretching up to Holsworthy, Hatherleigh and North Cornwall, which currently has poor connectivity to the national rail network.
The central Government funding is limited to £20 million per scheme with a local contribution of at least 10% expected. Devon County plans to put £1.2m towards the scheme with £0.5 coming from District Councils and £15.3m from the Government. The council was also told that there may be some initial revenue support to cover the rail-related operational costs over the first three-years as has been the case with other new rail stations in Devon; however, this will be offset by fare paying passengers and is not expected to exceed £50,000 per annum. To cover ongoing maintenance and security costs for the car park, the County Council will either introduce a nominal parking charge (in line with charges at Okehampton Town Station) or lease the car park to the train operating company to maintain and operate the facility.
In total the cabinet resolved to contribute £6.3m towards this and a range of other transport projects including reliefs roads and cycle paths.
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