The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander, paid a visit to Stanmore Underground Station on Friday to address long-standing local concerns about the step-free access facilities on offer. Local London Assembly Member, Navin Shah AM, praised the visit as a “way forward in a long and hard-fought campaign” for lifts to be installed at the station.
During the visit, the Deputy Mayor walked the current step-free access path alongside Mr Shah, the leader of Harrow Council, representatives of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) and spinal-cord injury charity, Aspire, and members of the Stanmore Society.
Mr Shah, together with local campaigners, has been pressing for improved step-free access facilities at the station over the course of a decade. On Friday, he explained to the Deputy Mayor the plethora of issues that passengers with disabilities, mobility issues and with buggies face when trying to reach and depart from the station platform.
Joe Gilbert, a wheelchair user and Duty Manager at Aspire leisure centre, also gave a demonstration of the challenges involved in navigating the tortuous access path, due to its length, steepness, uneven surfaces and multiple tight turns.
In addition, the group also raised the potential dangers presented by a narrow section of that step-free access route on a steep road used by cars, marked out only by a painted strip.
Calls for lifts to be installed at Stanmore Underground Station have been given greater pertinences by the fact that it serves as one of the main transport links for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, which provides world-renowned specialist care to patients across the country. Mr Shah is also currently working with local groups to campaign for a direct bus route to be introduced between the station and the hospital.
Local London Assembly Member, Navin Shah AM said, "I'm delighted that the Deputy Mayor for Transport visited Stanmore to personally examine the poor accessibility of this station and to meet local campaigners.
“It is evident that the step-free facilities at Stanmore are wholly inadequate, with Joe Gilbert, a wheelchair-user, clearly demonstrating the many difficulties those with mobility issues and disabilities face when trying to access and leave the station platform.
“The solution required is to install lifts at the station, and I was grateful to discuss the viability of this option directly with the Deputy Mayor.
“The visit has been a way forward in a long and hard-fought campaign led by myself and local campaigners including John Williams, Chairman of the Stanmore Society, Rob Hurd, Chief Executive of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and Brian Carlin, CEO of Aspire.
“With the great support we have from local residents and campaigners behind us, I am absolutely determined to persist with our campaign until we succeed."
