Investigations could be carried out with a view to transforming empty land next to Elgin’s railway station into a much-needed car park extension.
The barren tarmac between the tracks and the town’s Asda supermarket is currently believed to be unclaimed.
However, it is already used by motorists dropping off and collecting passengers from platforms as an unofficial car park.
Now the council is considering acquiring the land, which would have space for about 20 vehicles, in order to develop it as a car park with potential charges as the railway prepares itself for a boom in the region.
Scotrail wants to introduce an hourly service between Elgin and Inverness by the end of next year with larger trains also planned to offer more direct connections to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Senior management at the local authority believe more car park spaces at the station will help improve the economic development of the region.
Council officers have described the current ownership of the plot as “unclear” with title searches necessary to establish who it belongs to.
Extra costs are also expected to install lights, ticket machines, lines and signs to make the site conform with parking regulations.
The proposals are due to be debated by the council’s economic development and infrastructure committee next week.
However, transportation manager Nicola Moss has recommended that no action is taken due to estimates that it would take the authority at least a decade to recoup the costs of the development from parking charges.
In a report, she said: “It is suggested that the total likely cost for such a scheme would be in the region of £100,000.
“If the car park were to be charged in line with the current railway station car park at £2 per day, the maximum income per annum would be £10,000.
“This means it would take a minimum of 10 years for income to offset the cost.”
