Richmond Council will fund feasibility study for step-free access at St Margarets Station
A feasibility study will be carried out looking at the possibility of introducing level step-free access from the street to the train station in St Margarets.
Currently, St Margarets is considered by National Rail as an “inaccessible station”. Access to platforms is only available from St Margarets Road and then via steps. Therefore those with mobility issues, in wheel chairs or with push chairs find it difficult to use the station.
In addition, train travellers living on Amyand Park Road and in the Winchester Road area, many of which live parallel to the Twickenham bound platform, have to walk the length of the road to enter the station.
Residents and councillors have for some time been urging Network Rail to consider installing street level access from Amyand Park Road to the Twickenham bound platform.
Following a meeting with Network Rail, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, all have agreed that the Council will fund a feasibility study investigating the costs and details of providing step-free access.
It is planned for the study to commence later this year.
Cllr Peter Buckwell, Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, said:
“St Margarets is one of the key local stations in the borough. Thousands of people use the station every day to commute into London or beyond.
“In today’s society it is unacceptable to have a train station that isn’t open to all. I know that Network Rail is continuously looking at ways to improve accessibility at their stations, but they have no budget to cover St Margarets. Therefore, we have agreed to fund a feasibility study to look at the possibility of providing step-free access.
“This would not only improve access for those with mobility issues, wheel chairs or prams, but also provide a more convenient entrance to the station for those who live so close to the Twickenham bound platform.”
— from a Richmond Council press release - 21 February 2018
Comments
Step-free access - one STEP closer
Lib Dem team pledge to make St Margarets step-free by no later than 2022
After years of campaigning, petitions, meetings, and over a year's worth of letter writing to South Western Railway and Network Rail were moving closer to making St Margarets step free.
As a direct result of the Liberal Democrat campaign, Richmond Council has FINALLY agreed to fund an initial study into the feasibility of our proposed side-gate access via Amyand Park Road.
Councillor Alexander Ehmann said, "It's great news that after years of pressure by residents and your Lib Dem team, the Conservative-run Council has finally been forced to see sense and fund the study. This is just the first step but its an important step. It shows that we're winning the battle."
Four years wasted
It has taken years for the Conservative-run council to even take this small step; this could have been done years ago and we would have at least partial step-free access by now. As a result we've seen at least four years wasted.
Success - after years of pressure from the Lib Dem team and residents step-free access to St Margarets station is becoming closer to reality.
Cllr Ben Khosa said, "Some people have said this is a cynical pre-election promise by the Tories. Regardless, it has been the Lib Dems working with residents to make the case for step-free access at St Margarets station."
Cllr Geoff Acton said, "If you elect a Lib Dem council in May we give a firm commitment that we will do everything in our power to ensure improved step-free access is in place at St Margarets station by the end of our term."
Cllr Alexander Ehmann added, "St Margarets station needs hard actions not warm words; only a Lib Dem victory in Mays local election will guarantee meaningful progress. We can't afford another four years of Tory neglect."
Ben Khosa on 2018-02-22 21:53:20 +0000About time too! It should be illegal to have an inaccessible train station and I dont believe Network Rail cant fund it!
Mrs B on 2018-02-22 21:55:18 +0000This obviously helps a bit, but not if travelling the other way (towards Richmond & Waterloo) -
Isobel Wilson on 2018-02-22 22:21:10 +0000How much will it cost us as council tax payers to work out whether it is feasible to unchain the existing gate onto Amyand Park Road, which offered street level access to 50% of the station users for years after I first moved to St Margarets?
Maev Kennedy on 2018-02-22 22:42:20 +0000I don't quite understand this. It would be lovely to have access from the side gate; but what happens if a wheelchair bound traveller needs to take a train to a destination served by the opposite platform? Is the feasibility study investigating that prospect?
Dorothy Powell on 2018-02-22 23:13:49 +0000It is a good start but there also needs to be better access from the platform to the train. As a disabled resident, St Margarets Station has long been unusable as the gap between the platform and the train is far too high and using a ramp is not an option. If Network Rail and Richmond Council wish to make St Margarets Station a truly accessible station for all, this issue must be addressed.
Shelley on 2018-02-23 03:15:46 +0000About bloody time. Why have the Council waited so long to do this, and what motivates this decision, which ties them to nothing? One day, very soon I sincerely hope, we will look back on this disgraceful state of affairs with incredulity.
Ben on 2018-02-28 23:15:46 +0000Add a comment