Weston’s MP John Penrose said today that new Government cash to improve access for disabled people to Weston Station is hugely welcome, after he has been badgering Ministers for it on behalf of local residents for several years.
Weston station will get step-free access, allowing disabled people to use the station more easily.
In John’s most recent letter to Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani MP he urged her to make sure Weston was top of the list for this funding, saying: “Everyone who lives in Weston should feel they are able to head to the railway station and get on a train to head to work, visit family or take a trip. Just as important, Weston is a tourist town – we must ensure it is both fit for the future and accessible for everyone. This funding takes us a step closer towards delivering this.”
Notes to Editors
The Government is investing up to £300 million into extending the Access for All programme, which will improve accessibility across all types of travel for those with disabilities. The strategy includes investment in rail accessibility infrastructure and commitments to produce league tables which highlight operators that are delivering the best service for disabled people.
A copy of the letter John Penrose MP sent to Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani MP can be found below:
I am writing to ask for clarification of a point in your letter of 17th September about Access For All nominations. In it you say “Please note that any stations that were deferred as a result of the Hendy review do not need to be re-submitted as they will all be included in the programme automatically.”
As you’ll know, Weston-super-Mare is one of these stations. In July 2016 your predecessor announced there would be a new ticket gateline and a fully accessible bridge between the two platforms. This was enormously welcome and important as, currently, disabled access is a huge problem.
So can you please confirm that stations like Weston-super-Mare which were deferred in the Hendy Review will rank ahead of any new stations which may be approved as a result of any later rounds of bids like the one mentioned in your letter? You’ll appreciate I want to be sure that Weston’s station won’t be leapfrogged in the funding queue, and also that we won’t have to wait while the Department considers the new applications?
Yours sincerely,
John Penrose
MP for Weston-super-Mare