Rail campaigners in Yate furious over meeting snub (From Gazette Series)

Rail campaigners in Yate furious over meeting snub

9:10am Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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RAILWAY campaigners in Yate are furious after their calls for a meeting with bosses have been snubbed.

Local councillors had repeatedly asked for a meeting over the overcrowding on trains between Yate and Bristol with ministers from the Department of Transport.

However, they have been told there will be no such meeting but an announcement on whether or not any extra carriages can be relocated to the South West will be made later this year.

Chairman of the Friends of Yate Station Cllr Sue Walker (Lib Dem, Yate Central), said: "I am very disappointed that the Rail Minister (Tom Harris) will not spare the time to discuss the awful overcrowding faced by local rail commuters.

"Simply saying vaguely that he expects to make an announcement on rolling stock during this year is not good enough, especially with a general election imminent which could bring a change of government.

"Yet again, it seems that our area is not a priority."

Cllr Pat Hockey (Lib Dem, Frampton Cotterell), transport spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in South Gloucestershire, said: "I have been calling for a meeting not only with the Rail Minister and local councillors, but also involving the Ministry of Defence and local MPs.

"The MOD are about to add to the overcrowding problems when they relocate hundreds of employees to Abbey Wood. Their staff will be suffering so they have a crucial role to play putting pressure on their colleagues in the Department for Transport."