Harwell Campus Support for Wantage & Grove Station

 
The Wantage & Grove Station Supporters group today had an exceptionally productive meeting mainly regarding economic benefits of Grove Parkway station. Called at the suggestion of Paul McSweeney in his role at Harwell campus and attended by Olly Glover MP, Andrew Holding of the Wantage & Grove Station Supporters Group and Richard Stow Chairman of Railfuture Thames Valley. Paul stressed the growth of Harwell 15,000 employees within the next five to ten years and that it was the centre of the science base for the Southeast and a new station would boost access for employees and investors as Didcot Parkway is not always being the best option for connectivity. Olly Glover MP Said he had spoken to Lord Sir Patrick Valance, minister of state for science, in his role on the transport select committee about the benefits of extending the Oxford Cambridge Arc corridor to Wantage & Grove and he was pleased to say that he found Lord Valance very receptive to his ideas. Richard Stow Chairman for Railfuture noted the project for a station has universal support and welcomed warmly the support from both Olly and Paul who realise the tremendous economic benefits a new station would give, coupled with the upgrade of transport through the Oxford corridor. Andy Holding thanked all those who attended and noted this transport scheme in particular gives huge economic benefits to not only the Wantage & Grove area but to the UK economy in general. It is hoped to have another meeting when the statement of business case is released for Wantage Station later this year, this is currently being undertaken on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.
 

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