HEREFORDSHIRE councillors have voted to investigate the reinstatement of Hereford, Ross and Gloucester rail link.

At this morning’s full meeting of Herefordshire Council Cllr Louis Stark said that members should look to the future and grab a slice of the action for the county.

He said: “We’ve had a bad funding review by the Government, let’s not make us feel timid, but stronger as we go forward.

“We as a council should be ambitious for all of the people in Herefordshire.

“However, I am saddened by the lack of ambition by members of this council. I think this is a marvellous idea.

“Hereford-based members already has a railway station, but Ross doesn’t. It is a town that is often neglected because it is south of the county.

“This is an idea for the whole of Herefordshire and for the scheme to be called whimsical is not the case. I’m not even asking the council to pay for the scheme but we should approach the government and private companies to see whether it can be funded.

“I’m not even talking about using the same line as the historical railway, as much of this has been built on.

“This new line could unlock land for housing development along the route of a new rail corridor. This scheme is not whimsical and is deadly serious.”

Cllr Ed O’Driscoll said: “For more than half a century Herefordshire has lived with the consequences of rail decisions taken in a very different era.

“When the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester line closed in the early 1960s, it reflected the political priorities of that time.

“But the challenges we face today are very different, economic growth, housing delivery, sustainable transport and better connectivity for rural communities, are all vitally important.

“Over the next 20 years this county is expected to accommodate huge housing growth. But if that is to be carried out responsibly, we also need to think seriously about the infrastructure that will support this development. And this must include rail.

“The motion simply asks to examine the possibility properly by conducting a feasibility study in collaboration with various partners.

“The council’s previous lack of ambition has served our residents very poorly. There is clearly strong enthusiasm for reconnecting Hereford and Ross with Gloucester by rail within the community. The strategic context is changing, especially with the prospect of a new authority, potentially with Gloucestershire and connecting the cities will be a priority.

“If Herefordshire is to thrive, we must ensure the county is not left on the margin. A feasibility study is the first step, and only then can informed decisions be made. Our residents deserve a council which is prepared to think long-term to be ambitious and to explore opportunities that could transform connectivity and economic growth.

The chairman of the council, Cllr Roger Phillips announced that the motion had been carried by 21 votes for with 18 against and seven abstentions. Full report in next week’s Ross Gazette.