COUNCILLORS have unveiled  plans to have a second stab at securing  Government cash for Okehampton’s ‘vital’ Parkway station.

West Devon councillors failed in their first bid at securing levelling up fund cash, which would have been spent on the Okehampton travel hub project, which includes a parkway station.

Now the authority, which is working with Devon County Council and rail officials on the scheme, say they will bid for £12million from a £4.8 Government levelling up pot. Supporters say the station is needed because the road access to the present one is congested with traffic. The new station would open up the recently-restored Okehampton to Exeter rail link to traffic from the A30 and areas to the east of the traffic-choked town.

The travel hub, which is also receiving a pledge of £1.2million from the county council, would also offer better cycling and walking links and an interchange for buses.

Former Okehampton mayor Julie Yelland said: ‘I don’t think I can emphasise how important this is to the people of West Devon and the wider community.’ She said the reopening of the Okehampton rail link had been ‘phenomenally successful’ and added that the hub would have ‘a positive impact in taking vehicles off the road.’