Westminster Diary - 10th November 2005

Thursday, 10th November 2005

This is a time for optimism about Kenilworth’s future. The news that Waitrose will be bringing a store to the town is good news not just for the town’s shoppers but also because in bringing more people from the surrounding area to Kenilworth it will, I hope, act as the lynch-pin for economic revival from which other traders will benefit.

I am also optimistic about Kenilworth’s potential to attract more visitors to enjoy and admire what the town has to offer. The disposable income of domestic and international tourists will help our local economy yet further.

For both of these reasons, I believe that a railway station in Kenilworth will be an advantage. A station will not only enable the residents of Kenilworth to get more easily to where they want to go, it will just as importantly facilitate the arrival of the visitors we should all hope to see. If we want people to shop in Kenilworth, to visit all that we have to offer, we will have to make it easy for them to get here. A station will be a good alternative to driving into what is an increasingly congested town centre.

I recognise that bringing a station to Kenilworth will involve overcoming formidable problems, but I am convinced the effort will be worthwhile. That is why I asked the Government in the House of Commons this week to give the idea active support. I hope that, when the business case is put to them for a station, they will give us that support.

---

Updated on Thursday, 10th November 2005