THE MP for North Shropshire insists the reopening of a railway line between Oswestry and Gobowen would be a boost for the economy in the region.

Owen Paterson MP has written to Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport, calling for support for the Oswestry Light Rail Project.

The project would see the redundant rail line between Oswestry and Gobowen reinstated. It was one of many closed by Dr Beeching in the 1960s.

Mr Paterson is calling for the project to receive funding from the government’s Restoring Your Railway Fund.

The North Shropshire MP has previously met with Mr Shapps, and is now arranging a further meeting.

He said: “It would be a great shame if this didn’t happen.

“Here, the complete track is intact, the track-beds, bridges and route is there still – the ownership is there and the Transport and Works Act Order.

“It’s just a case of getting the government funding to do some proper studies and some to cross the A5.

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“Even that is a good thing because it is government policy to get rid of level crossings – we would effectively get rid of a level crossing.

“For our area I think it would be tremendous. The economic impact for Oswestry as a growing town would be great.

“It would help people link to other parts of the country, it would bring people into the town, it would help tourism and the night-time economy.”

“It would be great if people could turn up to Oswestry by rail.”

The plan is to restore the line between Gobowen and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) and between Gobowen and Oswestry.

The Cambrian Railways has applied for government funding to help move the project along, and has a long-term lease from the council for the railway.

Mr Paterson believes there is ‘no project more fitting to the government criteria’, adding that a rail service between Oswestry and Gobowen would generate employment, help with the economic growth in the town and would reduce pollution by cutting the number of car journeys.

He added: “It’s reviving a redundant line and it would have significant transport impact – at the moment people have to travel to the Orthopaedic by car, motorbike or bicycle.

“It causes real congestion at the Gobowen Roundabout on the A5.

“It would have a real impact in helping to develop Oswestry, and would bring more people to the town who want to visit but don’t want to drive.

“There’s no ownership issues – Cambrian Railways have got a long-term lease from the council.

“The track and track-bed are in good order and just needs modest refurbishing.”

The track would need to cross part of the A5 along the Oswestry to Gobowen line – Mr Paterson believes this would not be a cause for concern.

He said: “The only real issue is crossing the A5 – I have talked to some serious civil engineers and a local contractor which does a lot of roadwork, and it presents virtually no operational problems.

“That would be the only real major investment.

“It has overwhelming political support. I’ve been having meetings for years and years about reviving this line, so it’s nothing new.

“We’ve always talked about having a light community tram.

“As for users – 1,600 people work at the RJAH, but we also have the Veteran’s Centre there.

“It would be a big help for employees and visitors.

“If we did get it extended to Oswestry, it would be a big help for people in the town wanting to travel to the hospital for work and would provide a proper link to the National Rail network.”

The MP also believes getting the lines up-and-running would help to link Oswestry with the rest of the National Rail network, ahead of the reinstatement of the Gobowen to London route next year.