Support to re-open Elland Railway Station has just had a £50,000 boost.

Calderdale Cabinet members last night backed funding of more than £400,000 for several community-wide schemes from its Economic Task Force.

It includes £50,000 to support the production of a required Governance of Rail Improvement Projects document for a railway at Elland.

Cabinet papers say the money will be used towards the feasibility process.

The report adds: “Progressing this work does not guarantee that a new station will prove feasible or happen, but it is a necessary step if progress is to be made.”

Clr Tim Swift, leader of the council, said the funding helped tourism and help struggling families, which were Cabinet priorities, and would be a welcome boost.

The campaign for a station has stepped up this year.

The Halifax and District Rail Action Group has identified an area near Lowfields industrial and business park as a potential site for the station.

Calderdale Cabinet members also ploughed funding into events that will attract visitors, engage the community and support local businesses, including:

£41,430 to support festive lighting and Christmas 2013.

£40,000 to support and enhance promotion and marketing of Calderdale and the principle towns.

£25,000 per annum for two years for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Plus a one-off grants programme for advice services of £100,000 be established to increase financial resilience.

£8,000 to research the impact of debt on families and the most effective means of ensuring financial resilience in the future.

£20,000 to establish a Calderdale Festival and Events Fund to run from August 2013 until April 2015.

And there’s more good news too, as finally Cabinet members have backed £51,250 in 2013/14 and £102,00 2014/15 to employ more people in the council’s Business and Economy Service.

The Economic Task Force was established in January 2009 to react to the urgent need to counteract the effects of the economic downturn on the residents, communities, and businesses.