Super station gets backing

1:03am Saturday 17th May 2008

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A HIGH-QUALITY gateway station linking rail, bus and taxi services in Worcester city centre has received initial backing from Worcestershire County Councillors.

Members of the county council's cabinet this week discussed the prospect of buying the main Post Office branch next to Foregate Street Station and joining forces with train operator and owner of Foregate Street Station London Midland to create a super station for travellers.

They have authorised council officers to bid for the Post Office building with a view to turning it into part of an upgraded station complex.

The Post Office is moving from its Foregate Street home of 55 years to the first floor of the city's WHSmith shop in the High Street on Thursday and has put the old premises on the open market.

County council cabinet member for the environment Councillor Derek Prodger, who put the idea to his cabinet colleagues, welcomed the backing with cautious optimism.

"I am very very hopeful. But we are not the only bidder for that site. I think it would be such a gateway to the city opportunity for us, it is too good to miss," he said.

He added that there are 1,300,000 rail passengers using Foregate Street Station and 900,000 people using park and ride buses to and from the stops near the station each year.

Coun Prodger said London Midland supported the idea and if they did manage to buy the site the county council would work very closely with Worcester City Council on how best to develop the area.

"It is a big chunk of real estate," he said.

President of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group Lord Faulkner of Worcester, who chaired the annual meeting where the idea was first revealed by London Midland director Mike Haigh (correct), said: "This is very welcome. This is good news for rail travellers in Worcester. I hope it will be part of the renaissance of the railways in the area."