A CAMPAIGN to restore a railway station to Magor has gained support from Monmouthshire County Council.

Two stations serving Magor and Undy closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching Plan when the population of the area was only 500. 

Today though, it has expanded to 6,500 with further development on the horizon. 40 per cent of the population commute to work and campaigners argue that the need for a railway station has never been greater.

The Magor Action Group on Rail (MAGoR) was formed two years ago with the objective of bringing a railway station to the neighbourhood and this aim has won support from the county council following the adoption of its Local Transport Plan in January. 

The council would look to work with the Welsh Government and Network Rail in developing bus and travel access measures for the new station.

 Meanwhile, the group's current major goal is to raise £20,000, and it hopes that other organisations can match the funds gathered to reach a total of £40,000 to initiate a feasibility study. 

The group employs a crowd funding scheme to raise money by appealing to people to pledge £5 or more, which will be collected only if the feasibility scheme gets the go-ahead. 

Councillor Bryan Jones, Monmouthshire's cabinet member with responsibility for transport said: "We support the aims of the group to restore rail transport to the Magor with Undy area, and its use of crowd funding to raise money for a feasibility study is in accordance with the council's philosophy of communities coming together for mutual benefit. 

"I have met with officials of the Welsh Government today (19th February) and raised the matter with them."

For more information on the campaign visit http://www.magorstation.co.uk">www.magorstation.co.uk