A RAIL company has dismissed speculation Prittlewell station could close as a result of Southend Airport’s expansion.

Graham Longley, Lib Dem group leader at Southend Council, said he was told Prittlewell rail station could close, after the new station opens next to Southend Airport.

The airport rail station is being built between Rochford and Prittlewell rail stations on the London Liverpool Street line. But National Express, which runs the line, denied any changes are in store.

Spokesman Peter Eades said: “There are no plans to change any of the existing arrangements at Prittlewell station.

“Network Rail owns the station and we lease the passenger areas at the station. There would have to be a very thorough process, which we wold go through should any changes be proposed.”

The £12million Southend Airport station is due to open in the summer, but it is being paid for by airport owners, the Stobart Group, not National Express or Network Rail.

Mr Longley, also a Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Rochford and Southend East, said: “Any suggestion this was true would be fought tooth and nail.

“Prittlewell station serves a significant part of the Southend population around the St Mary’s area and would cause considerable problems for those who currently use it.”

Mr Longley said it was improtant the rumour was quashed and both commuters and Southend Council and Rochford District Council should be assured such rumours were untrue.