WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has called for swift action to improve capacity at the county’s busy train station car parks.
The MP has called on Worcestershire County Council to review plans to add capacity at the popular Worcestershire Parkway station which is already operating at well beyond expected demand levels.
Dame Harriett said the station has been a runaway success with usage up 170 per cent this year.
“The downside is that it can be impossible to find a parking space at peak times and people are parking on the B road and double-parking for fear of missing their trains.
“Worcestershire County Council made a visionary decision to build this station and it will attract inward investment into our area.
“The county council is under new leadership and they also need to show some urgency and work with the car park managers to expand capacity. After all, it is a money-maker,” she said.
A spokesperson from the county council told the Observer the parkway was exceeding expectations that were set out in the original business case, currently operating at the equivalent of year 15 even though it is only six years since the station opened.
Aerial view of Worcestershire Parkway when nearing completion in 2020. s
“We are aware that the car park is operating near capacity on some days, particularly mid-week.
“Worcestershire County Council Cabinet agreed to explore options to provide further capacity at the station and we are currently working to refine those options,” they said.
