GAZETTE & HERALD: Work is underway on a £500,000 revamp at Chippenham Railway Station, designed to make travelling more pleasant and efficient for passengers.

The historic station was part of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's vision for the Great Western Railway - and is still the site of his works office. But facilities are basic and outdated, the forecourt is poorly laid out and the station is not well integrated with bus services.

Now Wiltshire County Council has taken the bit between its teeth and organised the overhaul.

The £555,000 facelift will improve facilities on the station forecourt for passengers arriving and departing, and upgrade facilities within the station building.

The project will provide a new transport interchange to improve integration of bus and train services.

Better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists will include dedicated pedestrian and cycle routes and parking for cycles and motorbikes.

Improved disabled parking, a set-down point for general use, and a taxi drop-off, collection and sheltered waiting area will also feature in the scheme.

The ticket hall will be modernised, with a low-level counter for wheelchair users, and there will also be environmental improvements, new passenger information systems, and better signs to local facilities.

Cabinet member for highways, transport and economic development, Coun Fleur de Rhe Philipe, said: "We want to encourage local people and visitors to the area to make the best use of public transport by making the interchange between modes of transport simpler and by making the station safer and easier to get to on foot and by bicycle.

"Once at the station we want passengers, and people collecting friends and relatives, to be able to find the information they need quickly and easily, in a comfortable, pleasant and accessible environment."

The construction work, which is expected to last 20 weeks, is being financed by £250,000 in Rail Passenger Partnership funding from the Strategic Rail Authority and £200,000 from the county council. First Great Western is contributing £40,000 with £65,000 coming from the Railway Heritage Trust.