An issue on which I’ve been campaigning since I was elected is the lack of proper step-free access at Brentwood Station. The fact that there is no lift connecting Platform 4 with the ticket office causes huge inconvenience to disabled people and parents with buggies coming into Brentwood from London and the west.
Brentwood Access Group have been fighting to sort this for some time – and during the June General Election campaign last year it was they who first showed me the station and the problems it presents. The current “step free” route involves a 45 metre journey up the relatively steep incline of The Parade, across King Edward Street and down Kings Road to the traffic crossing by the newsagents, followed by a 40 metre trip back down the other side of the road to the crossing by the railway station. Imagine doing this – in all weathers – in a wheelchair or with a pushchair.
Transport for London has put out information stating all 41 stations on the Elizabeth Line have “step-free” access. I’ve made it clear to them that this is not the case, and will not be until Brentwood’s Platform 4 has a lift.
Although staff are available to help people if necessary this arrangement is clearly not acceptable. So since May I’ve been doing my utmost to get TfL and Network Rail install a lift. Letters have buzzed back and forth between my office and the Department for Transport and I have now invited the Rail Minister to visit Brentwood to see the problem for himself.
There are complications with the only feasible site for a lift - the land isn’t owned by Network Rail for a start - but these issues need to be resolved. I am seeking support from everyone involved to sort these problems out before the next round of Network Rail’s Access for All funding become available so that local residents can get a lift as soon as possible.
Whilst some progress has been made – there is now an accessible ticket machine at Platform 4 – it’s simply not good enough to have a 21st century rail service which fails to cater fully for those with disabilities. The fight to resolve this goes on. www.alexburghart.org.uk
