MORE than 250 people have told the group behind a plan to safeguard the future of Tavistock what they want built in the historic West Devon market town - and one item on their wishlist is a new railway station.

Members of the Tavistock Neighbourhood Development Plan steering group have launched an online questionnaire asking residents to submit ideas about the facilities needed in the town, backed up with a paper version being delivered to as many properties as possible in the area.

The group has also been holding successful ‘roadshows’ with their own stand at various locations in the town to let people know about the plan.

Chair of the steering group, deputy mayor and town councillor Ursula Mann, said 256 responses had already been received from residents via the online questionnaire.

She said most of the responses had come via the 40-65 age group, which had been expected, with 30-44s following close behind.

But she said the group had also received some input from under-18s age group, some of them asking for a new railway station.

The group have always made it clear that while some of the suggestions might be outside its remit, they will take them on board and refer them to organisations which might help. Campaigners are currently lobbying for a new railway station in Tavistock to provide a rail link with Plymouth via Bere Alston.

The neighbourhood development plan, expected to take up to five years to prepare, will give the community the legal right to have their say on planning applications affecting the area.