DR FALK - a noted urban developer – rightly highlights the need for better rail services for Stonehouse and indeed for the Stroudwater corridor ie Stonehouse to Stroud and its valleys.

Sadly, his diagnosis, with its pretty picture, is an example of ‘playing trains’.

As a transport/railway economist and railway planner, I must say ‘it ain’t that simple’.

Here are a few facts.

1 The majority of all rail passengers walk, cycle, bus, lift or taxi to the station. (National Statistics) 2 Local stations generate most passengers from up to 1.5/2.0 miles (i.e. walk, cycle etc); beyond that, rail usage will depend on accessibility by bus, bike and car. This is simple behavioural science.

3 Towns of 10 to 15,000 population normally have the highest rail journey generation levels.

4 Gloucestershire has the lowest rail generation figures in the West Country; Stroud District level is even lower – less even than Herefordshire.

5 Bristol is a major economic influence on the Stroud District and yet the Stroudwater corridor has no straightforward direct rail access.

Consider Stonehouse on its own.

It is the economic dynamo of the Stroud area, already has the ‘perfect’ population density and employment and is probably now the only small town on the Sheffield-Plymouth line without a station.

Add the ‘Westington’ / Eco Park / Stadium developments and it is madness not to reopen the old station.

The station is also alongside the restored canal and perfect as a ‘green tourist gateway’ to this worthy project.

Now add in the rest of ‘Stroudwater’ noting that Stonehouse has excellent footpath, cycleway and road access.

It has currently up to four buses an hour from Stroud.

It doesn’t need much imagination to see that some 20,000 people from the Stroud area would also benefit from sustainable, easy access to the Bristol etc line.

With a population of over 30,000 for Stonehouse station, it is probably the largest economic UK area not sustainably accessible to its Regional Centre.

If you have read thus far, you will have realised that traipsing several miles down to Hunts Grove on the fringes of Gloucester is a silly way of getting from Stroud to Bristol etc, quite apart from encouraging passengers to drive to Hunts Grove.

It would do nothing for Stroud itself.

Robert Crockford

Stonehouse