Hurry up and sort out our station

Helen Morgan has urged the Government to “hurry up and get the work going” to make Whitchurch Railway Station accessible.

It comes as Helen spoke out in Parliament to highlight the issue and received a statement from the Rail Minister promising an announcement on funding for the plans later this year.

The Liberal Democrat MP has long campaigned for full accessibility at the station where passengers must currently navigate 44 steps to reach the southbound platform. This means that disabled people and those with mobility issues are blocked from getting on or off any trains heading towards Shrewsbury.

Helen has been in close regular contact with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Transport for Wales and formally supported Whitchurch’s bid for Government funding.

Progress has now been made, with a design soon set to be drawn up regarding installing lifts, but any work is dependent on the station being granted Government cash via the Access for All scheme.

A decision on the application is due in the coming months but so far the Government has refused to clarify when the outcome will be known.

Helen spoke out in Parliament to highlight the importance of the issue last week [TRANSCRIPT BELOW] and invited Government rail minister Huw Merriman to visit Whitchurch but he turned down the chance to see the accessibility problems for himself.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, “It’s good news that designs will soon be drawn up for installing lifts at Whitchurch station but in the meantime the southbound platform remains closed for anyone with mobility issues.

“The Government needs to hurry up, approve the funding and get the work going so that everyone can get the train to and from Whitchurch.

“We don’t have enough public transport in North Shropshire so it’s particularly outrageous that one of the few train stations we do have is not accessible.

“The Minister could have come and seen what disabled people in the Whitchurch area have to put up with for himself but disappointingly he rejected that offer.

“I highlighted our transport problems in Parliament last week and I’ll continue to shout up for North Shropshire and make sure the Government does not get away with neglecting rural areas.”

The full text of Helen's speech can be found here.