LOCAL residents are being urged to give their views on a proposal to re-open Tavistock's rail link which has been described by West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox as 'probably the most important development in the town for the last 50 years'. The Kilbride Community Rail group, which specialises in community rail projects and property developments, is proposing to rebuild the Tavistock to Bere Alston railway line with the construction of 750 new homes at a site on Callington Road. The plans will feature in a consultation day being held by West Devon Borough Council today (Thursday) looking at how the town will develop over the next 18 years. People can attend the event from 2pm to 8pm in Tavistock Town Hall. Mr Cox met managing director of the rail company Peter Frost on Friday to hear details of the plan: 'It is very early days and there are a number of critical and fundamental questions to be answered,' he said. 'In principle I am in favour of reopening the line because I think it would be very good for the town and surrounding area but not if it will put an unacceptable strain on the town's infrastructure.' The MP said it was the view of the company that to build a new railway station they had to create a sufficient critical mass of housing and people to make the railway viable again. 'Kilbride is looking at quite a sizeable investment in the railway line but the other arm of the company is development. We are never going to fund this line at public expense, so it will have to be done privately.' With the line mainly intact, the work involved in bringing back the railway to Tavistock to provide that all important link to Plymouth is expected to cost less than improving the road between the two locations. Mr Cox added that it was crucial that local people became involved in the consultation for the local development plan and roadshows were currently being held around the borough: 'There are two options for Callington Road — to build 250 houses or Kilbride's proposal for 750 houses and a railway station,' he said. 'I have been impressed by the company who realise that there are fundamental questions to answer and deal with and how important it is at all stages to work with the community. 'The company is currently embarking on preparing a economical case which is is proposing to put to the Department of Transport by the end of the year. 'This is a very real prospect but it is vital people become involved. It is probably the most important development in Tavistock in the last 50 years.'
