Plans for a new train station in Charfield have received a high level of support from people living in the village and surrounding communities.
Results from a public consultation show that 78 per cent of people who took part in the survey were either very or quite supportive of the principle of reopening a station. Initial designs for the new station also received support from 73 per cent of people.
South Gloucestershire Council received more than 600 responses during a 12-week consultation held between October 2021 and January 2022.
Further analysis of the results show that 55 per cent of Charfield residents* who took part in the consultation were very or quite supportive of the principle of reopening the station.
A copy of the consultation report in full can be found on the project’s website, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/charfieldstation
The council is now pushing ahead with a planning application for the new station which will include two platforms serving north and southbound journeys, a pedestrian footbridge, a public transport interchange, covered cycle parking, and car parking.
The application is expected to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority later in the summer. Once submitted the scheme will be subject to further public consultation, led by the Local Planning Authority, providing an opportunity for people to comment on the application.
A new station in Charfield will support sustainable travel to and from the village and surrounding area. The station will also improve access to jobs, education and a wider variety of services and facilities and help mitigate some of the impacts of recent development in the area.
Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member responsible for transport at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are really pleased with the response, which demonstrates a strong level of support for a new station in Charfield.
“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to take part in our consultation. The feedback given is now helping us develop our plans ready for a planning application, which we will submit very soon.
“After many years of discussion, it is exciting to see proposals for a new station finally building momentum.
“Opening a new station in Charfield will make public transport more accessible for our rural communities and help encourage more people to make the switch to sustainable travel and improve access to jobs and education.
“We are committed to lowering our carbon emissions across South Gloucestershire and investment like this in public transport will help us work towards our Climate Emergency goal of net zero emissions by 2030.”
Information about the scheme can be found by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/charfieldstation
People who are interested in the scheme are also encouraged to sign up for a new project newsletter via the webpage.
