Council say they are step closer to re-opening disused part of Robin Hood railway line

The Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin met with Mark, ODEF and other local groups at Edwinstowe station to see some plans and understand the project.

Nottinghamshire County Council and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer have been working to develop a scheme to bring the line back to life between Ollerton and Warsop - a section of the line that has been out of service since the 1950s.

The scheme aims to re-open the line, which also calls at Edwinstowe, with a service to Mansfield and Nottingham.

Authorities involved are hoping to get the necessary funding from the government, following the budget announcements yesterday.

Councillor Alan Rhodes, leader of Notts County Council, said: “Improving transport links are a key way of boosting the local economy and the reopening of this section of the Robin Hood Line will make the major urban areas of Nottingham and Mansfield more accessible to Ollerton, Edwinstowe and Warsop residents.

“We will be making a strong bid for Government funding to help make this exciting project a reality.”

He added that the council have paid for the development work so far.

They have funded £100,000 towards the next stage of the scheme, but another £100,000 is needed from the Government to complete the full plan.

The government initially refused a contribution, but the council say that yesterdays budget announcements are looking promising for them.

Leader of the county council, Alan Rhodes, said that he is pleased the council will be able to big for funding from the government, but added that “there is still not a commitment from Government that it will support this important project”.

Conservative MP Mark Spencer met with Alan and other councillors last week to talk about plans to extend the plans.

He also met with the secretary of state for transport, Patrick McLoughlin, in Edwinstowe a few times over the last few months to go other the proposals.

Mark said: “I’ve done what I can in terms of getting the green light from Government, and securing some funding from the Chancellor.

“I think that the meeting was very positive, we laid out some plans as to how we move forward and they said all of the right things to make me feel very optimistic about it.”