LEGAL agreements have been drawn up that mean Corsham is still on line to have a new railway station by summer 2003.

Last Friday, members of Wiltshire County Council's Cabinet agreed to authorise the council's solicitor, Pete Jeremiah, and its environmental services boss, Richard Lander, to complete all the necessary legal agreements with its partners in the project, including North Wiltshire District Council, Bath and North East Somerset District Council and Corsham Town Council.

Fleur de Rhe Philipe, chairman of the county council's environment advisory panel, urged the Cabinet to give the necessary consent.

"We need to get on with the work which we hope will lead to the reopening of Corsham Station as soon as possible," she said.

Coun Judy Seager, who represents Pickwick and Box, said hopefully the move forward would dispel fears that the station is just a myth.

She said: "Anything that can speed this along is good. Local people are starting to wonder if it really will happen."

An agreement with troubled Railtrack or its successor must be drawn up. The company has said it will only agree to build the platforms and footbridge, not the car park and access works, because of its limited resources.

A contract must also be drawn up with Railtrack's contractor for the car park and access works.

Mr Lander said: "The county council would have preferred Railtrack to take on all of the works but owing to resource constraints, the company will not contemplate extending its own contract beyond station platforms and a pedestrian overbridge."

Train operator First Great Western will have to sign an agreement, as will the developers of Pockeridge Farm in Corsham.

The new two-platform station will be built near Pound Mead with parking for more than 100 cars.

Mr Lander said: "Now we have approval of the necessary legal agreements it is still hoped that the station can be completed by summer 2003."