A FRESH bid to end the 16-year impasse on delivering improvements to the car park at Pershore railway station has been made after town MP Harriett Baldwin brought rail chiefs together at Westminster for talks.
Fed-up commuters have been calling for a bigger car park at the town’s station for more than a decade and Mrs Baldwin said the potential improvement were an ‘important investment’ in Pershore.
Rail chiefs have been urged to deliver much-needed improvements for the car park which has been at the centre of war of words between Network Rail and landowners Carlton Smith Ltd since 2002.
Mrs Baldwin met with Mark Langman, regional director for Network Rail and Great Western Railways’ director Joe Graham to discuss the plans and described the conversations as ‘constructive’.
“I was pleased to hear Mr Langman say he wants this project to succeed and he has committed to visiting Pershore and working with me to resolve any remaining obstacles,” Mrs Baldwin said.
“I am sure we can find a solution which offers value for money and is the best possible solution for all passengers and I hope to make some progress on this matter very soon.”
The MP has been working with Wychavon District Council to explore proposals to build a large new car park on its land across from the current station platform. However, plans have been delayed by Network Rail whose own proposal for a new bridge over the train tracks has been estimated as costing more than £4million.
“The new Pershore station car park is an important investment in the town and Wychavon District Council is keen to move forward with the project.
“However, the complexities of building an affordable bridge over the tracks has been a frustrating stumbling block and I have been trying to meet with Network Rail for a long time to discuss this project.
