PLANS have been unveiled to offer an extra 200 parking spaces at a new-look Pershore Railway Station.

The scheme has the backing of West Worcestershire MP Harried Baldwin who met with Wychavon District Council leader Linda Robinson on Friday April 15.

The new car park - which could offer an extra 200 spaces – will be built on land owned by Wychavon District Council adjacent to the station. It incorporates a new footbridge and will allow many more people to use the station, helping to make the case for more services and further investment in the line.

The plans will keep disabled parking at the current car park but add significant extra capacity and improved facilities at the station. The new configuration will also include preparations for the doubling of the line towards Worcester. A second platform still stands at Pershore station could be used to enable double-running track through the station.

The council is in the process of developing a business case.

Mrs Baldwin said: “I have held a long-standing ambition to see a greatly enhanced station at Pershore and have been working both with the local authorities and rail operating companies to develop a plan.

“I am delighted that Wychavon District Council has agreed to allocate its land across from the station to create a much larger car park which will attract many more rail users.

“Pershore is growing and we must make more - not less - use of this important station and this can only be done by adding car park capacity.

"Other stations along the Cotswold Line to London have benefited from improved parking capacity and it is high-time that we did the same in Pershore.”

Cllr Robinson added: “The council is very excited about the opportunity to work with partners to develop improved parking facilities at Pershore station.”