Coventry City stadium railway station plans 'to be approved'

Plans for a railway station near to Coventry's Ricoh Arena are expected to be approved by the city council later.

Council leader John Mutton said he did not want to "take anything for granted" after "many false starts", but believed they would be accepted.

The government backed the 拢18.8m project near the arena, currently called the City of Coventry Stadium during the Olympics, in December.

The nearby line, used by freight, will also include a stop at Bermuda Park.

A station was part of the original plan for the 拢113m Ricoh Arena, which opened six years ago, but plans were rejected by the government.

Councillor Mutton said: "It will mean easier access for people both from the centre of Coventry and the south of Coventry up to the Ricoh Arena, and also from north Warwickshire and Nuneaton.

"It's also about gaining access to jobs that are being created at ProLogis Park.... and taking some of the traffic off the busy A444."

He also said that the area would continue to develop, including hotels on some of the car parks.