RAIL Minister Lord Hendy has agreed to meet with a regional rail transport group after pressure from local MP Rachel Gilmour.

Mrs Gilmour has been looking at ways to improve transport connections in her Tiverton and Minehead constituency and met with Peninsula Transport representatives last month.

Peninsula Transport was created in 2018 by councils across Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall to speak with one voice about Westcountry transport and infrastructure needs to boost economic growth.

Now, Lord Hendy has agreed to meet the group’s Peninsula Rail Task Force following a question laid in Parliament by Mrs Gilmour.

Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said officials were currently making the necessary arrangements for the meeting.

Mrs Gilmour said: “I am delighted the Rail Minister is moving forward with this meeting with Peninsula Transport, and I look forward to hearing about the progress made.

“This is the next step to improve transport links across the Tiverton and Minehead constituency, and I will be pressing the Minister’s colleagues in the Commons.

“Tiverton and Minehead is crying out for new and improved transport links, and this is one of my top priorities.

“I am glad that this meeting will go ahead, and I will now push for continuous improvement.”

Mrs Gilmour recently supported plans by Somerset Council and the West Somerset Railway (WSR) to link the heritage line to mainline trains via a passenger park and ride hub at Bishops Lydeard Station.

A strategic outline business case has gone to Government asking for £137,000 to pay for a full business case to be prepared.