The approach and entrance to Stafford railway station are to get a makeover, with work beginning in January.

The extensive work will make the station approach more attractive and accessible.

As well as refurbishing the station concourse, the improvements are creating more, and better, parking for customers.

More disabled parking is to be created close to the station. Access to the station itself will also be easier.

Relocating the short-stay car park will enable more spaces to be created, making it easier when dropping off or picking up rail travellers.

Resurfacing of the road and new street furniture is designed to make arriving at the station a better and smoother experience.

This follows a recent campaign by Avanti West Coast to highlight passenger safety at the station.

The work, which is set to begin after the Christmas break, will be carried out by award-winning, Telford-based civil engineering contractors McPhillips (Wellington) Limited.

Stafford’s railway station is a key entry point to the town. Its improvements are part of a much wider scheme to transform the town centre called Project Stafford.

Already, the town’s Market Square has seen a £1 million refurbishment as Project Stafford, which has been funded by the government, began.

Adjacent to this is the old Guildhall Shopping Centre and Co-op department store, both of which are scheduled to be demolished. As town centres move with the times, the council are planning to replace these older buildings with both commercial and residential properties.

Some buildings will remain, preserving Stafford’s heritage and identity. These are the ones located on Greengate Street and the commercial units on Crabbery Street and St Mary’s Grove. The Co-op’s frontage will also be retained.

The revamp of the station, which sits next to the Green Flag award-winning Victoria Park, is seen as integral to modernising the town through Project Stafford.

“It will be great to see this work underway as it is another piece in our jigsaw of transforming the town. First impressions really do count. Visitors and rail users will exit onto an enhanced concourse with the award-winning Victoria Park on the doorstep – which underwent a £2.5m restoration not so long ago. This will be a fantastic advert for the town.”

Councillor Rob Kenney, Deputy Leader of the Stafford Borough Council with responsibility for town centres

“We are excited about ‘Project Stafford’, and we hope residents and businesses will be as positive for the future as we start delivering the scheme at the railway station and work begins on preparing the Guildhall Shopping Centre and former Co-op to attract developers and bring more investment into the town centre.”

Aidan Godfrey, Leader of Stafford Borough Council