Car park could be extended

Rail chiefs are looking at extending the car park by up to 100 spaces as a spin-off from a major track upgrade project.

It is using former allotments next to the car park to store works equipment, but it could be used for the extra spaces when work is completed in late summer.

The present car park has 158 spaces and is often full with commuters’ cars.

The £67m project will reinstate two tracks on the Cotswold Line rail route between Oxford and Worcester, a move expected to allow more trains and improve punctuality.

Redoubling scheme manager, David Northey, said: “After we vacate the site in late summer, it has been identified that this would make an ideal location for additional car parking, and we are currently exploring opportunities for this site and looking for ways to finance the work.”

The move was welcomed by Nick Potter, chairman of Charlbury Town Council, who said: “We all know there’s insufficient car parking at the station. This, along with the charges at the station, forces commuters to park in the streets and the car park in the town, causing problems for residents, visitors and shoppers.

“So if we can get the rail users to park at the station, some of those problems will go away.

“Charlbury is a very important station, serving the surrounding villages as well as the town, and deserves an extended car park. Anything Network Rail, First Great Western and the county council can do to make this happen must be good for Charlbury and the surrounding area.”

Four miles of new track is being laid between Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood.

l For more details of the Cotswold Line redoubling project, visit firstgreatwestern.co.uk/northcotswolds and networkrail.co.uk/northcotswolds