COUNCILLORS in Trowbridge are being recommended to help save direct rail services to London.

They are being urged to lobby local MPs, including South West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison, as well as the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, for services Waterloo and Paddington to continue.

All through trains from Trowbridge to London, save the 05:51 to Paddington, are likely to be removed from December under South Western Railway cut proposals which have been approved by the Department for Transport.

Trowbridge Town Council's chief executive Lance Allan says the move is a "serious concern" and is recommending that councillors should approve a motion at next Tuesday's policy and resources committee meeting calling on the council to lobby local MPs and the Minister for Transport.

Mr Allan said: "The four or five through trains a day to London Waterloo have been very popular, and there is no adequate alternative proposed to run during 2022, nor even proposed in the 2023 consultation.

"Bradford-on Avon, Keynsham, Oldfield Park and Warminster lose all or all but one of their direct London services in one direction or both."

The recommendation states that the council writes a letter to MPs and the Transport Minister requesting the continuation of through services from Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and Warminster to London.

At a meeting organised by local rail expert Graham Ellis, commuters called for MPs to lobby harder to save the services to and from the capital.

More than 3,000 people have already signed a petition. Go to https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598397/signatures/new