A DISPUTE over the locked gate likened to ‘Fort Knox’ which stops people accessing Maze Hill station is nearing an end.

As News Shopper reported in December, people living in the neighbouring Seren Park development were promised direct access to the station when they bought their flats.

But due to a dispute between the developer and Network Rail, they have been locked out, forcing them to either walk around the station for 15 minutes or slip through a hole in the fence.

Now, however, an agreement has been reached which will allow Seren Park people access, though no date for this has been announced.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are in the process of setting out the main agreed terms between the two parties and will then instruct our solicitors to formalise a full agreement for the path to be used.

“At the same time, we will ask Southeastern to install Oyster card readers and ticket gates at the new entrance.

“Once all these steps have been completed, the path can be opened.”