THE long-awaited £5.4m revamp of Didcot’s railway station is set for the go-ahead next week.

Transport officers have recommended that the project to transform the forecourt of the station is given the support of Oxfordshire county councillors at a meeting next Tuesday.

If it gains their backing, a planning application could be submitted next month for approval by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The county council originally hoped to submit a planning application in October 2007, but there were delays with the design of the forecourt. It could now be finished by spring next year.

Didcot Town Council chairman John Flood welcomed the step forward.

He said: “My first reaction is, ‘Not before time’.

“The project is vitally important because it’s part of the Didcot revamp and Didcot will become the major town of Oxfordshire, after the city, and the major station in Oxfordshire.

“It’s vital and will be a great boost for the town.”

The scheme, which is funded by the county council, aims to create a gateway for Didcot, with better facilities for walkers, cyclists and bus users. Redundant buildings on the forecourt will be demolished so that there is separate space for buses, taxis, bicycles and cars. There will be a central pedestrian piazza flanked by a dedicated bus and delivery area and a larger taxi rank.

More secure cycle parking will be provided, together with a drop-off point for vehicles. A new pavement will also be added.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, Ian Hudspeth, said: “At busy times, the current station forecourt becomes gridlocked as each transport mode jostles for the same limited space, causing safety issues for pedestrians and delays to local bus services. This has an impact on the reliability and attractiveness of buses as an alternative to the car.

“With the population of Didcot and surrounding parts of South Oxford-shire forecast to grow, we need to make sure that the railway station is fit to serve the purpose of being a major gateway to the area and a lynchpin of its transport network.”

The amount of parking on the station forecourt will be reduced by almost 50 per cent.

However, Network Rail plans to increase parking in the main car park in Basil Hill Road.

A Network Rail spokes-man said: “It’s great news that the district and county councils have come together on this project to invest in the railway.”

“The improvements being carried out at Didcot Parkway station, together with the newly approved travel interchange, will make rail an easier and more accessible option for local people.”

Didcot Parkway station is used by 2.1m passengers per year — making it the second busiest station in Oxford-shire. It serves about 240,000 people living within reach of the station.