Accessibility improvements

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

I struggled to find a place to put this, as it is national - but I have highlighted local stations involved:

Rail stations across Great Britain receive £20 million funding boost for accessibility improvements
New lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens to improve passenger experience.

• 124 stations across Great Britain to benefit from a share of £20 million for accessibility improvements
• latest in a series of improvements by the Transport Secretary to accelerate the pace of change for a more accessible transport network
• follows launch of new campaign to improve journeys for disabled people when using public transport

Disabled passengers across Great Britain are set to benefit from accessibility improvements at 124 stations thanks to a £20 million government fund.

The enhancements announced by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today (26 February 2020) are funded through the Access for All programme and will include new lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens.

It comes as a new government campaign launched this week to improve the journeys of disabled passengers on public transport.

[...continues]

South West stations included are:

Dorchester South, Freshford, Lawrence Hill, Lostwithiel, Nailsea & Backwell, Parson Street, Patchway, Severn Beach, Stapleton Road, Yate

It'll be interesting to see the detail. £20 million divided by 124 stations averages about £160,000 each, which sounds a bit thin - but some of these surely are re-announcements; Patchway, for example?

[Kernow Otter]

For about 8 years now, Lostwithiel Town Council and Town Forum have been emphasising the need for a replacement footbridge at the station, predominantly because of the disruption that the adjacent level crossing causes, only enhanced by the much welcomed increased frequency of services.  Indeed we are of the opinion that when also considering the additional clay freight movements reversing at Lostwithiel, that the Lostwithiel Crossing is the most frequently triggered crossing west of Exeter.

When the Totnes Footbridge, was recently replaced, Cornwall Council and Network Rail worked to ensure that the structure was saved while a feasibility study for relocating it to Lostwithiel was carried out, which also allowed for improvements to disability access to the Down platform.

It is fantastic that, our representations have been heard at the highest level, and our ongoing thanks must go to Sheryll Murray MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), Cornwall Council, Network Rail, and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

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