A GROUP hoping to set up a railway station in Magor has been given up to £30,000 in council funding.

The Magor Action Group on Rail (MAGOR) has been campaigning for more than three years to re-open a station to serve the community of Magor and Undy.

The rail action group will now look to commission a specialist firm to undertake a Grip study to identify how viable a walkway station could be.

And Monmouthshire council’s cabinet yesterday approved underwriting a guarantee of up to £30,000 towards the cost of a feasibility study.

MAGOR’s Paul Turner said: “It’s great news that the council feels it can support us in this way. We’ve got to makes sure we get the work done within the budget they have underwritten it with.

“There’s still work to be done on that front, but the company we’re working with indicated £30,000 should be enough.”

The group has already secured a grant of £5,000 from Magor with Undy Community Council and £1,000 from fundraising.

The study could now be commissioned early next year.

They have also applied to the First Great Western Customer and Communities Infrastructure Programme, Railfutures and the Welsh Government for financial assistance towards the cost of the study.

A council report recommended underwriting the guarantee for the remainder of the costs pending the outcome of the grant requests.

The money will come from a pot of £32,346 which is being held for the Magor and Undy Community Hall project.

The report says little progress has been made on the community hall project proposed at the Three Fields Site, but discussions are continuing and should not be detrimentally affected now the funding is being provided for the railway study.

Mill councillor Frances Taylor, whose ward includes Magor, said the move was testament “to the credibility MAGOR has built up with the council”.