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Push for better disabled access at Stamford Railway Station




A lack of disabled access at Stamford Railway Station has been branded ‘unacceptable’ by residents.

Frustrated by the lengths people with wheelchairs or pushchairs have to go to if they want to cross to platform 2, Stamford’s ‘station adopters’ group is calling for improvements.

People who cannot use the footbridge currently have to call an operator to open a gate, giving them access to a sloped path, over a barrow crossing, and back up a ramp. Alternatively, they do a ‘U-turn’ at Peterborough Railway Station where there is a lift, and travel back to Stamford.

Steve Bonde, Stamford town clerk Patricia Stuart-Mogg and Pamela Rodgers
Steve Bonde, Stamford town clerk Patricia Stuart-Mogg and Pamela Rodgers

Pamela Rodgers, who is pushing for better access, said: “It’s a Victorian station design and in those days disability wasn’t taken into account.

“We accept that it is a ‘listed’ station and we wouldn’t want anything to change its beautiful appearance.

“But in this day and age something needs to be done to make it accessible to everybody, including people with limited mobility, who are blind or deaf, and pushchair users.”

Steve Bonde, a member of the group, recalls disabled access being raised as an issue as long as 35 years ago, but said for a campaign to be successful ‘the community needs to be involved’.

The barrow crossing, located at the end of the station platform requires supervision from rail staff, and in Stamford it is not level, creating a hazard for visually impaired people and wheelchair-users.

The campaign to create a safe-access crossing is being backed by the town council.

Patricia Stuart-Mogg, town clerk, said: “We certainly have many people who use the barrow crossing in Stamford and they shouldn’t be neglected.”

While the group doesn’t think the current set up puts people off visiting Stamford, they think it would deter them from using the trains again.

“It really is so disappointing that so many of Stamford’s residents are not able to use the station” said Pamela.

“Especially with environmental issues, we should be encouraging people onto the trains.

“This needs addressing. There is legislation in place about access so we need to be doing as much as we can.”

She added that they have not drawn up plans for the solution because that is ‘down to the experts’.

Rob Goulding, station and depot portfolio surveyor at Network Rail said: “We appreciate people’s concerns and are committed to delivering a railway that is here for everyone. While there are no current plans to improve accessibility at Stamford station, we’re working with our partners to explore options for funding in the future.

“The barrow crossing currently provides people with a safe and accessible way to cross the railway. Anybody who needs extra support should speak to station staff or contact our national helpline on 03457 114141.”

Network Rail, with support from the station operator East Midlands Railway, needs to apply for funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the next round of funding isn’t due until 2025.

A spokesperson for Network Rail says until now, it hasn’t had any complaints from residents or the council.



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