DECADES of work have finally come to fruition after the long-awaited Norton Parkway train station was finally given the green light.

Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee unanimously granted the plans for the £22 million station in the village on the south east of Worcester, which will link the Cotswolds and Birmingham to Bristol lines at a meeting this morning.

But, although it is believed the new station will dramatically improve services both to London and to the north of the country and save a total of £52.6 million over the next 60 years, many more hurdles need to be overcome if work is to get underway next spring for completion by autumn 2017 – not least that the county council does not own the land.

The project, which is being backed by train operators First Great Western and Arriva CrossCountry, already has £7.5 million of funding from the government and the council is expected to take out a £14 million loan to fund the remainder.

The council is also in talks with landowners to come to an agreement to purchase it, and is considering issuing a compulsory purchase order if negotiations are unsuccessful.

Speaking at this morning’s meeting, project manager Mike Haigh said the new station would be greatly beneficial to commuters, travellers and businesses in the area.

“The key issue here is Worcester does not have direct access to the cross-country rail network,” he said. “Both train operators are supportive of the proposal and we are in the position where we have timetables agreed by both of them.”

He added: “It’s not just about Worcester city – it’s about the rest of the county too.

“Roughly 50 per cent of residents in the county are rural-based so have no choice but to use their cars. The new station will answer their needs.”

But Cllr Paul Denham said it was important parking charges at the new station were not set at a level which would deter travellers.

“It’s been made very clear parking revenue is needed in order to repay the borrowing the county council will need to take out,” he said. “The cost of parking will need to be comparable to those at the other stations in order not to deter people from using Parkway.”

But Mr Haigh said initial plans were it would cost £5 a day to park at the station – 50p cheaper than at Shrub Hill.

But not everyone was in favour of the plans, with objections lodged from the Campaign to Protect Rural England Norton Juxta Kempsey Parish Council and a number of residents, with concerns including the impact on traffic in the area, with the site difficult to access in any way apart from by car.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting Janet Mackinnon of Friar Street, Worcester, said she was firmly against the project.

“This scheme is premature – quite clearly it shouldn’t be determined at the present time,” she said.

“If this scheme is as attractive as its promoters make out I wonder why the county council is promoting it and not Network Rail as is usually the case.

“I would also remind the council that park and ride facilities were closed last year. This council does not have a strong record of developing what is basically a park and ride scheme.”

Ms Mackinnon added if members decided to approve the scheme she would launch an appeal.

The new station will include a single platform on the Worcester to London line and two on the Birmingham to Bristol line, as well as a booking office, toilets a shop and 500 parking spaces along with a taxi rank, bus stops and a drop-off area.

Both Foregate Street and Shrub Hill will remain in operation once the new station is up and running.