Top Tory calls for interchange action (From Stroud News and Journal)

Top Tory calls for interchange action

SHADOW transport minister Christopher Chope has called for more less talk and more action after visiting the site of Stroud's stalled plans for a bus to rail interchange.

The Tory transport supremo added there was a danger of the Stroud District Council initiative never seeing the light of day during a visit to the town on Friday.

Plans for a link between bus and rail services in the town are currently bogged down in talks between the council and railway landowners Network Rail.

"There are so many infastructure projects around the country where people say 'that would be a good idea' but nothing ever happens," he told the SNJ.

"The first thing is to get all the parties, the landowners and the local authority, to recognise that this has to be done. Where there is a will there is a way.

"At the moment some people are not convinced so the thing to do is to make sure people are convinced this is a good thing."

Cllr Nigel Studdert-Kennedy, Ebley Mill's cabinet member for regeneration and tourism, said the more high-profile figures like Mr Chope supported the interchange idea the better.

"Anything that will help bring this on I am willing to try," he said. "I am very pleased that Christopher Chope has come down to add his political weight to the arrangement.

"We are still trying to reach an agreement with Network Rail and various meetings have been set up but nothing immediate is happening."