Railway station faces rejection

Plans for a new station in Thornhill have been recommended for refusal

Plans for a housing development including a new railway station in a south of Scotland town have been recommended for refusal.

The proposals for Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway would be built on a former auction mart site.

Developers claim the new station would be "extremely beneficial" to the wider community.

However, planning officers have advised councillors to reject the scheme when they meet to discuss it next week.

A number of groups have objected to the project.

Transport Scotland has described the station plans as "premature" and said it would not oppose the proposals if that element was dropped.

Thornhill Community Council has also objected to the scheme due to the density of housing, roads infrastructure and potential impact on pupil numbers at local schools.

There is no opposition from Network Rail but they have pointed out that a station in the town could slow down journey times on the route which would be against industry objectives.