Call for action to improve disabled access at railway stations (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Call for action to improve disabled access at railway stations

12:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News

ACTION is being called for to improve disabled access at train stations.

Tendring Council is to lobby rail bosses in a bid to improve the “poor state of repair” of the district’s rail stations.

Kirby Cross, Great Bentley and Manningtree stations have all been highlighted as needing major improvements.

Cabinet spokesman Sarah Candy said it was not just a problem of access to railways stations. She said some disabled passengers also had problems getting on and off trains and had been unable to find a guard at unmanned stations to help them.

“The issue is about disabled residents’ ability to access our stations and our rail network,” she said.

“The road and rail network are key to regeneration and inward investment in this district.

“I have had a meeting with someone who was stuck on the back of a train as they couldn’t access a guard and could not get off the train on their own - they had to return back to Colchester.

“This is a huge issue for many people and it needs to be recognised. We need to work with all our partners to ensure that our wonderful district is accessible for all.”

Tendring Council’s cabinet discussed the poor state of the district’s railway station infrastructure at a meeting last week.

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said: “We are continuing to work with our partners to try to secure the future Department for Transport Access for All funding to enable accessibility improvements.”