A campaign to improve accessibility at Radlett Station is continuing, despite cuts to railway funding.
Residents have set up a petition calling for lifts to be installed at the station, while Sir Oliver Dowden CBE, MP for Hertsmere, has written to the Department for Transport (DfT) asking for an update following the government’s Spending Review.
Currently, the only way a passenger can move between platforms at Radlett Station is by climbing the stairs to the footbridge. This has caused problems for those with mobility issues, wheelchair users, passengers carrying luggage, and parents with prams.
Radlett is not unique in having this problem, with hundreds of stations across the country in the same position.
To tackle the issue, the previous government launched the Access for All (AfA) scheme which provided funding to selected stations to install lifts and improve accessibility.
Sir Oliver MP unsuccessfully nominated Radlett for this scheme just last year, but he has continued his campaign with the new Labour government.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for DfT Simon Lightwood responded on Wednesday, June 18, saying: “This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway.”
The prospect of Radlett getting funding seems to have now become even less likely, with the Spending Review seeing investment into several railway projects drastically cut, although it’s unclear how this will impact AfA schemes.
Sir Oliver MP told Radlettnews: “Like many local residents, I have long been frustrated by the lack of lifts at Radlett.
“Following the recent Spending Review, I have written to the DfT to push them to ensure that the AfA programme is retained and that Radlett Station can be upgraded.
“I will continue to campaign on this in order to improve our local transport networks and I think everyone, regardless of their accessibility needs, should be able to use them.”
The petition can be viewed online at www.change.org/p/lift-desperately-needed-at-radlett-train-station-for-people-of-all-ages
Photo credit: Oliver Dowden MP
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