CONCERN has been raised about a possible delay in starting Bromsgrove’s proposed new multi-million pound railway station after it was revealed the project is £5m short of funding.

Plans for the station, believed to be costing in the region of £12m, feature longer platforms to increase capacity, more car parking, a booking office and toilets.

However, district councillor Jill Dyer (Con-Drakes Cross and Walkers Heath), the chairman of the authority's Transport Working Group – who are partners overseeing the project, said investment was now needed to bridge the shortfall.

She revealed a possible source of funding was “in the balance” but believes the new station’s future is not in doubt.

She said: “The station is a vital part of the town centre regeneration plan, not only for the people of Bromsgrove, but the whole of North Worcestershire.”

Bromsgrove Rail Users Group (BRUG) chairman Mike Ponsonby said the lack of funding would delay building work at the proposed brownfield site adjacent to the existing station, until autumn 2009.

He said: “The sad thing is construction was due to start next month. We don’t think it will put the station in jeopardy, but having said that, you only need to look at the current economic crisis.”

Town MP Julie Kirkbride commented funding was always going to be the issue, and said she hoped Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Regional Assembly, both government organisations, would provide the extra funding.

“We were always going to be in this position. The station is utterly vital. If it doesn’t go ahead the Birmingham to Worcester line will seize up,” she added.

Leader of the opposition Labour group, Cllr Peter McDonald (Waseley), said if the station did not go ahead it would be a “shocking waste of taxpayers' money.”

“Funding should have been guaranteed before thousands of pounds was spent on preparatory work."

A spokeswoman for Network Rail stressed the station will be built and already well over two thirds of the cash has been raised.

"Once the funding has been secured we will issue a start date for the project," she said .