YEARS of fervent calls to improve parking at Kemble train station may finally be coming to fruition.

Previous plans to upgrade the 220-space car park with an additional 333 spaces were submitted last March but were deemed “unworkable” because of the village’s one-way road system which has now been revised.

The news could spell an end to commuters struggling to find parking spaces at the station and cars being left parked haphazardly around the village.

Residents, councillors, Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and a Standard petition signed by more than 1,000 people have all called for more parking.

“The road plan was completely unworkable,” said Cllr Tony Berry, of Kemble Ward. “There was a one way system that meant you wouldn’t get half of the agricultural machinery over the bridge.

“We got around the table and found the problem was having to put a footpath from the car park to the station, without that they wouldn’t need a one way system.”

Great Western Railway (GWR) has now brokered a deal with brewery Arkells to run the footpath alongside the Tavern Inn, which will mean the one-way system can be scrapped.

Commuters will breathe a sigh of relief if the plans make it through CDC’s planning committee in March, especially with thousands more houses looming on the horizon.

“There’s still a few things that will need to be ironed,” said Cllr Berry. “People will want this built tomorrow. Along with the station in Moreton-in-Marsh this is the gateway to the Cotswolds”

The long, thin car park will lie to the south of the pub along Station Road.

A GWR spokesman said: "Recognising the key role that rail plays in supporting the national and local economy, we are delighted to announce our proposal to expand car parking capacity at Kemble Station.

“Subject to planning approval, the £1.4million project will deliver an additional 333 spaces.”

Mr Clifton-Brown said: “I have been personally campaigning for what seems like an awfully long time for extra car-parking spaces at Kemble Station.

“We desperately need extra spaces and I hope that the CDC will now get behind this application so that the necessary engineering works can be prepared and the spaces can provided as soon as possible.”

To comment on the application use reference code 15/00786/FUL.