PROPERTY prices in Tavistock could boom if the railway between Plymouth and the town is re-opened — that is the view of a leading estate agent.

Ward and Chowen, of Tavistock, have welcomed moves to bring back the rail link, which closed in the 1960s. The firm says the congested A386 commuter route puts people off buying houses in the town.

Neil Woolcock, of Ward and Chowen, said: 'Any improvement in the journey to work is bound to be reflected in an improvement in the desirability of property in Tavistock.

'Furthermore, residents of the big city may well be tempted to relocate to Tavistock if they believe that they could reach the office more quickly and easily.'

Mr Woolcock said clients often asked about journey times to Plymouth.

'The new rail link can only have a helpful effect on the property market in Tavistock and therefore the prices of homes in the town and its surrounds should rise,' he added.

Kate Little, West Devon Borough Council's planning services manager, confirmed a working group has been set up to look at opening the line.

'Officers are working through some past research work. The current local plan has safeguarded the station site, which is just behind Monksmead,' she said.

Mrs Little said re-opening the line was 'a massive capital investment', costing between £5-million and £15-million.

'It's been milling around for ten years already — this group is the first time anyone has started to work practically on it. I think it will be done in the long-term,' she said.

'We are pushing at an open door as far as the government is concerned,' added Mrs Little, but stressed the scheme was at a 'very early' stage.

The working group, comprising representatives from the borough, county and Plymouth city councils, is chaired by borough councillor Jo Hawkins.

She said: 'It's a wonderful scheme, but we're talking about real money here.

'Really it's all about getting in there and working on it now, to get it going and viable for the future.'

Ray Bentley, head of transport for Plymouth City Council, said congestion on roads in the northern corridor would increase with employment development in the area.

'If you take all the common sense ideas, engineering ideas and comparative cost it makes a lot of sense to re-open a line which is already there, but you have to find the funding,' he said.

Mr Bentley said the working group was considering ultra light trains on the single-track bed, which were cheaper than traditional ones, making funding more feasible.

'The track bed is all there; there are no major technical problems,' he said.

Two engineering studies confirmed Shillamill viaduct and tunnel are in good condition, although several small accommodation bridges are missing and Mr Bentley conceded some land may have to be bought back to implement the scheme.

The working group will also look at linking the railway with city bus services, to provide a shuttle system to major employment areas.