Sam Townend for Bristol North West

Dear Editor,
 
I am writing to call for more support, including by the Post (!), for the re-opening of Henbury Station to passenger services and to halt the reported sale of the Station by Network Rail.  On Friday 7 November there was a gathering at Henbury Station attended by Doug Naysmith MP and others in support of the campaign led by Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways.  There are already existing Portishead and Henbury loop freight lines which operate about once an hour.  There is therefore space for re-opening the passenger services on these lines which can be done relatively straightforwardly.   If these could be re-opened it would transform public transport to the north of the City.  However, we need the South West regional authorities to push this up the regional priority list.  We also need South Gloucestershire Council (and Bristol City Council) to try to step in to stop the possible sale of the Station by Network Rail.  Once that is gone the dream of rapid transit public transport in this part of the City would be severely set back.  Investment is required, but lets not allow the destruction of the opportunity by this proposed sale.  
 
Sam Townend
Labour's prospective MP for Bristol North West