PLANS to rename a railway station in Colchester have been given the go-ahead following years of campaigning.

Hythe Forward Community Land Trust and the Hythe Business Network launched their bid to rename Hythe Station back in 2015. The appeal gathered steam and now Greater Anglia has approved the station’s new name, Hythe (Colchester).

It is currently unclear when the new name will be implemented.

A Greater Anglia spokesman said: “We are planning to alter the signs at Hythe station to Hythe (Colchester) and change the search term on rail apps and websites from Hythe (Essex) to Hythe (Colchester).”

“This is part of a larger project to get new signs at all of our stations which is still in the early stages.”

However, campaigners fighting for a change to Colchester Town Station still have some way to go. Founded in 1866, the station was previously called St Botolph’s until it was renamed back in 1991.

A campaign to revert the name back to its original has also been running for a number of years.

But Greater Anglia has rejected the calls because it believes it is appropriate for tourists and shoppers who use the station.

A spokesman added: “We have considered requests from some of the community to change Colchester Town back to its previous name of St Botolph’s.

“The station was renamed some years ago as it is the station closest to the town centre, which is easy to understand for visitors to the town without local knowledge.

“We are celebrating its heritage with permanent history boards which we feel strikes the correct balance in recognising the history of the station, whilst still maintaining its significance in being the closest station to the town centre.”

Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell, who has been an advocate of changing both names of Hythe and Colchester Town railway stations, said: “I would argue that the name is confusing to visitors and tourists because the town station is not the main one.

“The main station is the one we refer to as North Station although its official name is simply Colchester Station.

“To avoid any possible confusion, Anglia should give the name Colchester as the prefix to all three stations with the two smaller ones to be titled as Colchester Hythe and Colchester St Botolph’s.”