A PROPOSAL for a new railway linking Malvern and Gloucester was aired in the Malvern Gazette a hundred years ago.

The Great Western and Midlands rail companies had made the suggestion, and it was being considered by county councillors from both Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

The proposed new line was set to start at Malvern Wells and run through Welland, Castlemorton, Birtsmorton, Holly Bush, Comer's green, Berrow, Pendock, Eldersfield, Redmarley, Staunton, Corse, Hartbury, Maisemore and Lassington, before terminating at Gloucester.

Advocates of the new line pointed out that it would enable market gardeners and farmers in these villages to get their produce to big city markets more easily.

But evidently the idea did not catch on, as the line was never built.

And if it had been, one feels safe in predicting that it would have fallen victim to the post-war Beeching cuts, when the axe fell on so many other small rural lines in the area.