COUNCILLORS say they fear Worcestershire Parkway could jeopardise other railway stations nearby - despite agreeing the grand project.

Worcestershire County Council has agreed to update its spending plans in order to allow the multi-million pound development to go ahead.

The vote, which was passed unanimously, is another milestone in the process, with work starting on the flagship project in early 2017 and the station open from spring 2018.

During a debate at County Hall some politicians cited concern over a potential impact on Malvern and Colwall rail stations - while others questioned if Worcester would still need both Foregate Street and Shrub Hill.

The worries were batted away by the Conservative leadership, which pointed to Worcestershire Parkway being “decades” in the making.

Powick Councillor Tom Wells said: “What impact will this new station have on Shrub Hill and Foregate Street - are we really thinking that three rail stations in or near Worcester is viable?”

Councillor Ken Pollock, the cabinet member driving the scheme forward, said: “There are no plans to close Foregate Street or Shrub Hill, the train companies are still committed to serving them.

“They serve very distinct markets, so we will still have all three.”

Green Councillor John Raine said parkway developments “tend to suck in cars”, citing concern over congestion on the A449 - and told the chamber he was “concerned about the implications” of less people using Malvern and Colwall stations.

Councillor Pollock told them as parkway has just 500 parking spaces, “there will not be a tremendous amount of cars using the roads at any one time”, and said the overall economic impact from parkway is “very positive”.

During the debate the leadership also insisted the legal row over the land was over, with no risk of judicial review.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the leader, said: “This really is a game-changer for Worcestershire - it’s something which has been discussed not for years, but decades.”

Labour Councillor Graham Vickery called for “clarification” over the legal dispute over the site, despite the well-publicised signing off of the scheme by the Secretary of State last month.

Councillor Pollock said as far as he knew, “the land issues are entirely settled”, with no Compulsory Purchase Order required.

The Worcester News revealed last month how ex-site owner Annie Hartwright has sold the land to County Hall, scuppering attempts by a private firm called Norton Parkway Developments to build the station.

The scheme is now running 10 months behind schedule and will cost more money than the original estimate of £22 million, but the council has voted to adjust its capital spending programme to accommodate it.

The financial implications are being kept confidential at the moment, but bosses at County Hall say they will publish the details for public consumption once the details are finalised.

Off Woodbury Lane, the 14-acre parkway will include a single platform on the Cotswold Line and two platforms on the Birmingham-Bristol Line.

A main station building with toilets, a booking office and some retail alongside a 500-space car park is also included.

A mixture of Government grant money and borrowing will fund the bill, paid back via parking revenue and train operator’s fees.

* Full steam ahead for Worcestershire Parkway as Government signs off railway station scheme