WORCESTER'S MP says Worcestershire Parkway could "defy all expectations" - after decrying the lack of parking at the city's existing rail stations.

As the Worcester News reported yesterday the parkway project at Norton has surpassed its latest hurdle, with council chiefs handed permission to appoint a contractor.

Robin Walker says it promises to help people across the city, after criticising the lack of parking at Shrub Hill and Foregate Street stations.

Worcestershire Parkway will come with 500 parking spaces, with the cash from it used to help offset some of the station's costs.

Shrub Hill has just 40 parking spaces while Foregate Street has none, despite being in the heart of the city centre.

Mr Walker said he believes that factor alone could make parkway a success, despite concern in some quarters that Worcester will effectively have three stations all in close proximity by the end of next year.

"It will help journey times a little bit, which is something I always welcome, but there are more benefits than that," he said.

"It gives some of my constituents the ability to actually drive their car and park up at the station, which is something nobody should underestimate.

"At the moment Foregate Street isn't easy for commuters to use unless you live in the city centre.

"If you live in areas like St John's, Warndon Villages and St Peter's you've got two stations you can't actually use very easily, even at Shrub Hill there's only 40 parking spaces.

"That's why I think Worcestershire Parkway could defy expectations and if more people use it, we also stand a better chance of getting improved services."

The cost of the council's scheme was originally put at around £22 million and that has now risen, although the difference is being kept confidential for now.

It will be part-funded by a £7.5 million Government grant as well as a planned loan, which will be paid off via car parking fees.

Worcestershire Parkway has been delayed around 10 months and will not be complete until March 2018, instead of this May, partly due to a wrangle with a private developer.

Norton Parkway Developments, which has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with County Hall over the project, still says it wants to submit a planning application over its own version of the scheme on adjacent land.

Yesterday we revealed how the Department for Transport has handed the council permission to appoint a contractor ahead of construction.

The station will tap into the North Cotswold rail link from Worcester to Oxford and London Paddington, and long-distance cross country services which currently pass through without stopping.