A Westbury website has been set up to warn commuters about the risk of losing high-speed trains to London and gather support against the move.

www.westburytrainwatch.org.uk provides information about changes to the Great Western franchise which could threaten the service.

There is also a link to an online petition, and advice on how to contact the Department for Transport and franchise bidders and support the maintenance of existing services.

Town councillor David Jenkins, who set up the site with fellow councillor Gordon King and Ian Cunningham, want to send a strong message about the importance of the service.

“The fast train to London is an extremely important facility for the area, for business and the community in general,” he said.

“We are encouraging people to write in and show the government and the companies bidding for the franchise just how important this is.

“Our car parking is in a mess and no one knows what might happen with the bypass, we can’t afford to lose the trains.”

The website was set up after the councillors went to a meeting in Pewsey last week to discuss a similar threat there.

South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison is working with Devizes and Newbury MPs Claire Perry and Richard Benyon and plans to meet Minister for Transport Simon Burns to look at electrifying the line from Newbury to Westbury.

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