A CAMPAIGN for a reinstated rail line between Tavistock and Plymouth is calling for government funds of £1.5 million to get the project back on track.

Despite the government scrapping transport projects including a programme called Restoring Your Railways when it came to power in July, lobby group TavyRail says early stage funding to complete a business case is all the cash it needs right now.

The previous Conservative government had earmarked £150 million for the scheme but it wasn’t scheduled to open until 2029. Supporters said five years of paperwork was needed before any track was laid.

At a meeting of TavyRail, chairman Richard Searight urged people to write to their MPs and get behind the campaign as the government is due to hold an infrastructure review next month.

The line include the constituencies of Tavistock and Torridge MP Sir Geoffrey Cox (Tavistock, Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers), Plymouth Moorview MP Fred Thomas (St Budeaux), Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard (Keyham, Dockyard, Devonport and Plymouth) and South Devon MP Rebecca Smith, the line goes briefly through her constituency but it has no stations.

In her maiden speech in parliament last week, Miss Smith said the rail link between Tavistock and Plymouth, part of a new metro service linking communities with the city is critical for the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport which aims to bring millions of pounds of investment and jobs into the area.

Mr Searight said: “We need to make an overwhelming case for the provision of seed funding, which is just one per cent of the total project funding.

“Transport infrastructure projects are acknowledged to be one of the most effective ways to level up low income, poor economy areas – and the west of Plymouth, which this line will serve, is one of the most deprived city areas in southern Britain.

“If everyone writes to their MP and the secretary of state for transport, the Rt Hon Louise Haigh, we hope we can persuade the government to agree the funding for Tavistock by 1 November.”

He said if this failed there would be a plan B to find the money from elsewhere.

David Northey from TravelWatch South West told the meeting the government would be looking at bringing back railway projects and all the business cases had benefits.

He said the money required by Tavistock was “a drop in the ocean” being millions less than needed for early stage funding for Wellington and Cullompton stations.

“All of these projects have real potential, but campaigning with local MPs is vital so you are in the forefront.

“Thinking where other funding might come from is also critical, for example from housing .

“The benefit of reopening a railway has an impact on health, business and education too, the government will look at what the scheme will help.”

West Devon Borough Council leader Mandy Ewings (Ind, Tavistock South West) said both Plymouth and Tavistock are expanding on their edges and new homes are crucial. The government recently approved a £34 million relief road for Cullompton that will enable 5,000 homes to be built.

Cllr Ewings said money is in the pot from developers’ contributions to infrastructure ito help deliver the Tavistock scheme.

“Every major housing scheme had to pay for the railway for well over 10 years, so there is a million fundamentally sat is Devon County Council’s coffers,” she said.

She added that leader of the Labour-led Plymouth City Council Tudor Evans supports the line and has the ear of government.

“We should be having days out in Plymouth and standing on the platform talking to people. Our MPs are very busy people [and] we need to be getting Plymouth on board with this.”

Alison Stephenson