A petition launched by MP David Johnston to re-open Grove Station has now closed with over 2,100 signatures from local residents.

The MP now plans to present this in the House of Commons, where it will be then in turn be presented to the Department for Transport. He also plans to meet with and present it directly to the rail minister.

The MP, ardent local residents and pressure groups have been campaigning to see Grove station re-opened for many years.

Since he was elected, Mr Johnston has raised the issue in the House of Commons on more than 20 occasions, in addition to regularly meeting with Ministers and rail organisations to try and make this a reality.

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Mr Johnston achieved a milestone in 2021 when he got Grove Station on a list to be considered for Government funding for the first time in nearly 50 years after the Department for Transport was impressed with the strength of the case presented.

The 2,127th and final signature on the petition was provided by Andy Holding of the Wantage and Grove Station Supporters Group in person, when the two men met to discuss the latest steps in the fight to see the station reopened.

The station closed in the 1960s as a result of the Beeching cuts, a series of major rail route closures and service alterations made in the restructuring of the railway system in Britain at the hands of then chair of the British Railways Board Dr Richard Beeching.  

The MP argues that with the local population of Wantage and Grove continuing to grow, re-opening Grove Station would better connect people in the area, support local businesses and be good for the environment.

David Johnston said: “Thank you very much to the thousands of people who signed my petition. The number of signatures shows again the huge strength of feeling on this locally.

“I have been campaigning to re-open Grove Station since I was elected and will keep going until we are successful! I will now be presenting the petition in Parliament to make the case to the Government.”

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Andy Holding of Wantage and Grove Station Supporters Group, said: “I was delighted to sign the petition. I want to thank David for all the work he has done to champion Grove Station.

“I look forward to seeing the petition presented to the House of Commons and the Department for Transport and will continue to work closely with David on this vital campaign.” 

“Support for this reopening from local councillors has been unanimous. Traffic congestion in the county is getting worse and worse. Grove station’s reopening would help in getting to  Oxford, London and many other destinations.”