AS co-chair of the Devon and Somerset Metro Group I am pleased to have recently submitted our application to the Rail Minister for opening a railway station in Wellington.

It sets out a strong local case and provides the opportunity to secure funding to develop the plans.

I have worked on this project for many years as part of a team of local stakeholders including GWR, Network Rail, Somerset County Council and Somerset West and Taunton Council and I look forward to continuing to the next stage.

I am pleased too that disabled passengers across the country are set to benefit from accessibility improvements at stations with a £20 million Government fund which is part of a wider £300 million package that was announced last year. This is a welcome step but there is much more we must do to level-up access for disabled people to transport and open-up opportunities for all.

The repeated delays to the roll out of superfast broadband to many households and businesses across Taunton Deane is unacceptable. I met with Ministers last year to secure an extension to the funding for the programme and I spoke again with the Digital Minister last week regarding the support that has been recently secured to move this matter forward.

READ MORE: Next stop for Wellington train station plans

A new procurement process is now under way in order to deliver better broadband to the people and businesses here. I received assurances from the Minister that steps have been taken and measures introduced to ensure that the mistakes made in the past will not happen again in the future.

Some constituents have understandably been in touch regarding the coronavirus outbreak and I am assured that the Government continues to monitor the situation very closely. For up-to-date information and guidance please go to gov.uk.

And finally, 2020 is the 125th anniversary of the National Trust and they have announced that guided ‘Scaffold Platform Tours’ of the Wellington Monument are now available to book online.

Visitors will be able to reach a special viewing point ten metres from the ground allowing amazing views across the Vale of Taunton and a bird’s-eye view of the conservation work in progress.

REBECCA POW

MP for Taunton Deane