HOLSWORTHY Town Council has lent its support to a group which aims to lobby for the provision of a railway link between Bideford and Barnstaple.

The rail connection between one of the larger conurbations in the Torridge District and Barnstaple was among the closures instigated by the infamous ‘Reshaping Britain’s Railways’ report, commonly known as the ‘Beeching Axe’ after its author, Dr Richard Beeching in 1963.

North Devon Railway Alliance is aiming to garner support for their vision to bring back a railway connection between Bideford and Barnstaple, where the remaining branch line connects the town to Exeter.

Correspondence was sent by the Northern Devon Railway Alliance detailing its aim to restore the connection, and at a meeting of Holsworthy Town Council’s full council meeting, the town’s councillors discussed the proposal and the potential benefits it could bring for people in the Torridge district.

It was proposed by Cllr Jon Hutchings, the mayor of Holsworthy, that the town council lend its support to the Northern Devon Railway Alliance with its aim to provide a railway link between Bideford and Barnstaple, alongside upgrades to the North Devon Tarka line between Barnstaple and Exeter.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Sandy Preston, with ten councillors voting in favour and one abstention.