A MOTORWAY junction on Worcester's outskirts could be remodelled if a new parkway station is constructed.

Plans have been drafted for a station at Norton, that could serve commuters travelling on Virgin routes.

The operator does not stop anywhere in Worcestershire at the moment, but its chief executive, Chris Green, has said he is interested in the Worcester Parkway proposals.

Worcestershire county councillor Tom Wells said a survey suggested a million people would use the station.

"The Highways Agency is examining Junction 7 of the motorway to see if alterations would be needed as a result," said Coun Wells, who is the council's portfolio holder for the environment.

"At the moment a lot of people drive to Birmingham, but if the Parkway station project was established many commuters would turn off the motorway at Whittington."

Worcestershire County Council was also carrying out a traffic impact assessment of how additional traffic would affect the A44 between Worcester and Norton, he added.

Con Wells said a consultant was to be hired to work on detailed proposals.

But the councillor said it was not yet clear whether Railtrack was prepared to pay for this.

A more likely alternative would be for Railtrack to share the cost with Worcestershire County Council and five train operating companies.

A further meeting of the project partners has been arranged, which Coun Wells expected to take place in early December.

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency confirmed that the organisation "had agreed to assess the likely impact of a proposed park-and-ride at a Norton Parkway".

She said "early indications" of the effects on Junction 7 would be raised at the next meeting.

Landowner Chris Sadler has told the project partners he is willing to sell 15 acres of land on a triangular plot at Norton.

Another 21 acres could be made available, he says.