Campaign launched for improved train station access

2:48pm Friday 29th August 2008

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RESIDENTS of a care home for the disabled are fighting a campaign to get better access at a railway station.

The campaign follows an incident which took place in October last year when three members of St Cecilia's Cheshire home were going on a day-trip to London.

The home in Bromley, which is part of the Leonard Cheshire Disability charity, houses 30 wheelchair-bound residents aged 23 to 70.

Unfortunately the trip had to be cancelled when it was impossible for them to get to the platform as it was only accessible by stairs and there was no lift.

Numerous letters have been sent to various governing bodies, including Southeastern trains but so far no one has taken up their cause. They don't know what to do next but are considering a petition.

Fifty-five-year-old Barry Wooding, volunteer at St. Cecilia's said: "We want to know why there is no access, not just for disabled people but also mothers with pushchairs and the elderly."

He added:"There's been no positive response from anyone. It's okay for them to install hundreds of pounds worth of ticket barriers but they won't fit a ramp."

John Kennedy, 58 of St Cecilia's suffered a stroke 10 years ago, which left him paralysed on his left side. He said: "We had really looked forward to the trip for a long time, but when you can't get there it's a disappointment for everyone."

As one of Londons's busiest railway stations Bromley South qualifies for the Department for London's "Access for All" scheme, meaning it will be included among 15 stations due to have disabled access installed.

Campaigners want to know why step-free access isn't scheduled to be fully accessible until around 2013.

A spokeman for Southeastern trains, Nigel Jarrett said: "We work closely with the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Transport for London and local authorities to actively deliver better facilities for disabled people."