IT'S full steam ahead for a new train station in Wellington this week as Taunton Deane's MP presented a petition to parliament.

The petition urges the Government to support calls for a new metro style railway station in the town.

It will now be given to the Department of Transport for answer. 

The petition was launched at a very well supported local meeting, attended by over 200 members of the community.

An overwhelming majority joined with Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow in calling for a new station to be seriously considered for the area.

Many believe that the rapidly expanding town could benefit hugely from new rail links to Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Cullompton and Exeter.

Wellington is thought to be the second largest town of its kind on a main line railway without a railway station.

The wording of the petition also calls upon the Government to support the feasibility study now needed to push ahead with the proposals.

Taunton Deane Borough Council has already committed £40,000 to this and Rebecca is now pressing the other local authorities involved (Somerset County Council, Devon county Council, Exeter Council and Mid Devon Council) to allow for this next stage of development to commence.

Rebecca said: "I am delighted that this petition was so well supported by the local community.

"I fully believe that the Government has an appetite for building viable new stations as illustrated by the highly successful New Stations Fund that has so far released two rounds of £20million to help develop transport links in hard to reach areas.

"This week I am bringing a delegation of local stakeholders to meet the Rail Minister Claire Perry to discuss how we can really push this project forward for the benefit of the local community.

"Wellington is a thriving local hub and increased connectivity would only help move the town forward as well as being part of a wider push to get people out of their cars and onto public transport."