HOPES that work would start on upgrading Menston railway station this month have been dashed by transport chiefs.

A meeting of Menston Neighbourhood Forum heard in June how rail bosses were planning a series of improvements costing £30,000 including repairs to the platform, footbridge and boundary wall.

But the scheme has not started and villagers could have to wait until next April for the proposals to be carried out.

Menston and Ilkley councillor Audrey Brand said she was disappointed the refurbishments had not begun.

And this week she has urged bosses at Metro (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive) to fulfil their pledge as soon as possible.

"I said 'action, please' in large letters," said Coun Brand. "They keep promising but now the answer is that they hope to finish the work by the end of the financial year, so that could take us to next April.

"I hope they will keep to that and we will be expecting great things in the end, so you never know."

At the forum meeting, representatives from Northern Spirit (formerly Regional Railways North East), Railtrack (York) and the WYPTE outlined their plans for the future of the station.

Andy Paterson, of Northern Spirit, said re-staffing the busy station was 'a distinct possibility'.

Plans were also in the pipeline to provide public telephones on the platform.

Other ideas, welcomed by the village, were that of extending car parking and adding a ticket office in the former waiting room.

This week John Oxley, of Metro, said all the proposals were under negotiation between the three bodies.

"A bus link to Otley - as promoted by Wharfedale Newspapers' Missing Link campaign - was among them.

"At this stage we are in discussions with Northern Spirit and Railtrack as to how all these things are being developed but there is no definite time scale," said Mr Oxley.

He added that promise had been made to begin work in August but added: "From all the parties' perspectives, the sooner we start the better.

"We have to agree a funding package and make sure all the contributions are in place.

"The start will not be that imminent but it will happen as soon as it is possible."

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