Bill Rammell MP today
welcomed confirmation from Harlow train operator National Express
East Anglia that almost £400,000 in Government and Essex funds will
be spent on improving disabled access and general refurbishments at
Harlow Town station during the course of this year, including
providing unassisted access onto the lift between booking hall and
platforms.
Local MP Bill Rammell was
instrumental in working with partners to secure funds for the
passenger lift at Harlow Town back in 2007. However following the
lift’s construction in December 2007, Mr Rammell was dismayed to
find that passengers would need to be accompanied when using the
lift due to the awkward design of the station, and while the new
lift was an important step forward for disabled people using the
station, they would still not be able to travel
independently.
Since this time Mr Rammell
has pressed Harlow Renaissance, Network Rail, National Express and
Essex County Council to identify funding to ensure that the
necessary works are undertaken to ensure independent train travel
for disabled people.
Mr Rammell is also a
long-term supporter of the Harlow Area Access group which lobbies
to improve access to public areas on behalf of disabled people in
Harlow and he has frequently made representations to Government
transport ministers on the issue of access.
National Express East
Anglia Managing Director Andrew Chivers has recently written to Mr
Rammell confirming that the extensive works as a result of the new
funding will include:
-
Opening up the
“overbridge” and demolishing the existing staff office
accommodation and wating room to create an open-plan
“concourse-style” area on the overbridge which will have a
refurbished ceiling with new lighting, new flooring, redecoration,
CCTV, new seating, customer information system and
heating.
-
Providing unassisted
access to the lift from the booking hall and refurbishing the
ground floor lift lobby area.
-
Refurbishing the booking
hall by refurbishing the ceiling to match the ‘overbridge’ new
floor covering and lighting.
-
Redecoration throughout
the station.
-
Reconfiguration of grass
verge to left hand side of existing disability access parking
adjacent to the station building to provide more parking
spaces.
-
Redecoration of platform
lighting columns, canopy columns and street furniture as
appropriate.
National Express have
confirmed that they shortly be submitting a planning application
for the works to begin.
Bill Rammell MP said: “I
am very pleased that disabled access onto the platforms at Harlow
Town will finally be improved so that disabled passengers can board
the trains independently without the help of station staff. This is
something I have worked for years to achieve and something which
should have happened when the lift was first installed. The
redecoration and refurbishment of the station, including improved
seating and waiting areas, will also improve the look of the
station and make the commuting experience more pleasant for all
passengers. I am strongly urging National Express to submit their
planning application to enable works to be completed in time for
Harlow Town station’s 50th birthday in July this year, a
date which marks an important milestone in the station’s
history.”
Peter Lainson, Chair of
the Harlow Area Access Group, said: “I am delighted that these
works have finally been announced, and I look forward to using the
new lift and refurbished station when it is up and running. Bill
Rammell MP has worked hard on behalf of the Harlow Area Access
Group to press for answers on transport issues from central
government, and I am really pleased he has been successful in
confirming these improvements.”
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