PASSENGER trains could stop at St John's for the first time in more than 40 years under radical proposals to transform the old Kays factory site.

Worcester City Council says the expected redevelopment of the factory and surrounding land in Bransford Road offers "an appropriate time" to look into the construction of a "rail halt" - a small, unmanned station - for St John's on the adjacent Worcester-Hereford line, as part of a larger scheme to bring jobs back to the area.

The council has already spoken to the Department of Transport, Network Rail and train operator First Great Western about the proposal, as part of a wide-ranging public consultation on the destiny of the 10-acre site.

However, a major row appears to be brewing over the land's long-term future, with the city council determined to boost employment by restoring the site's business use, following the loss of about 500 jobs when Kays closed for good a year ago.

Landowner Littlewoods Shop Direct insists the "only sensible and viable" option is to sell the site for housing, while a bid has also been made by St John's House Surgery to use part of the land for a new GP practice.

The council has received crucial backing in its stance from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, and the council's survey of 335 nearby households found strong public support for the site's "total demolition and redevelopment" with offices and light industrial units.

However, a separate survey undertaken by developer Arndale Properties found St John's residents want at least part of the site to be used for housing.

The council's plan to bring rail services back to St John's will revive fond memories of the old Broughton Halt, a now-defunct rail stop just yards up the line which closed in 1965.

In his report this week to the city's planning committee, Worcester City Council's head of urban environment John Wrightson said: "In line with government policy, the council felt this would be an appropriate time to investigate the provision of a rail halt to reduce traffic movements."

The rail industry's initial response appears cautious, with Network Rail outlining the need for "a fully worked-up and funded business case, supported by the Department for Transport and the train operating companies."

First Great Western said it would be "supportive of any work to establish the viability of this option", but the Department for Transport said it had "no budget" for new stations and funding would have to come from developers and councils.

The issue will be discussed by the planning committee on Thursday.