MEMBERS of Crediton Conservatives are preparing to distribute more than 500 surveys seeking residents’ views on local rail services.

Local campaigner Roddy Jaques met with the town’s Member of Parliament Mel Stride at Crediton Railway Station to launch the survey and to discuss local rail services.

The MP has been at the forefront of the campaign to introduce a regular passenger rail service between Okehampton and Exeter via Crediton organising several government ministers to visit the constituency and for rail campaigners to meet with ministers in London.

Real progress has been made in the last couple of years with Great Western Railway in the process of completing a feasibility study for the Department for Transport.

Roddy, who lives in St Lawrence Green in Crediton, catches the train to work in Exeter several times a week.

He said: “Mel and other campaigners have done a lot of work over many years and this is a huge opportunity for Crediton.

"If every train stops at Crediton station that means more trains running between Crediton and Exeter, the option for residents who work in West Devon to commute via train, more cars being taken off the A377 and a potential boost to Crediton’s economy from commuters stopping off to shop in town.

"Better access to Sowton will also help Crediton residents access training opportunities and potential job opportunities.”

The survey seeks to gather information about travel habits, ascertain whether residents are more likely to use a train to travel into Exeter if more services were running and to see whether the Crediton to Okehampton leg of the journey would also be utilised.

Welcoming Roddy’s involvement Mr Stride added: “It was good to meet Roddy and talk through the opportunities for Crediton when this service goes ahead. The more data that can be gathered locally the better – it could prove very helpful in terms of shaping future services.”