A new bridge and car park will be built at Pershore Railway Station following a £2 million investment.

Members of the Wychavon District Council’s executive board have agreed to put £500,000 towards the building of a new £1.5 million ‘flow footbridge’ linking the station to council-owned land at Dawes Way in Pinvin.

In an effort to boost the number of people using the station, the council has also agreed to invest £1.5 million into developing a car park with more than 300 spaces at Dawes Way upon completion of the bridge.

Councillor Martin King, executive board member for Resources and Investment on Wychavon District Council, said: “This has been a long time coming and it is a welcome step towards the completion of a lengthy project that without our support may otherwise disappear into thin air.

“This is an investment Pershore, and the surrounding area desperately needs.

“It will support rail travel in the area, and it is another example of Wychavon delivering on our commitments.”

Flow crossings are said to be a recent innovation from Network Rail made from fibre-reinforced polymer, making them lighter and cheaper than steel bridges.

It is hoped that the bridge could be completed during summer 2023, once funding from other partners has been found to carry out the work.

The car park meanwhile would either be leased to the train operator (currently Great Western Railway) to deliver a return for council taxpayers or be run by Wychavon.

The council states that improving parking provision at the station is one of the promises in Wychavon’s corporate strategy.

It is thought that a lack of parking is one of the major deterrents to people using the station to travel by train.

Improving parking and walking and cycling links to the station is said to be crucial in supporting the development of 2,000 new homes at Throckmorton and will also go some way to supporting the council’s aim of encouraging more sustainable travel.