Anger at lack of disabled access as part of station upgrade (From Haringey Independent)

Anger at lack of disabled access as part of Alexandra Palace Station upgrade

2:22pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

A railway station upgrade which will not include a lift for disabled people has been branded "outrageous" by a travel expert.

Former London TravelWatch chairman Sharon Grant, who lives in Muswell Hill, has raised concerns about the multi-million pound upgrade being carried out at Alexandra Palace Station, which includes a new platform.

Mrs Grant says people with disabilities will still be denied access to the station as there will be no lift installed.

She said: “Investment and improvement should be for everyone and the fact they are not using this chance to put in a lift for disabled access is outrageous.

“A huge amount of money is being spent on the new platform and the other improvements and investment like this only comes round once in a while.

“It’s unlikely there will be another chance to spend this sort of money again to improve the station so I don’t understand it hasn’t been done.

“Access at Alexandra Palace would potentially have made a huge difference for thousands of people.”

Tracey Proudlock from Muswell Hill who uses a wheelchair and regularly has to travel into London said: “There is just no disabled access for transport for people living in Muswell Hill or around Alexandra Palace.

“The upgrade of the station in a golden opportunity to install a lift. It could open up the transport network for disabled people from this area.

“I run a business and have to work in central London regularly and it takes so much work, effort and stress to travel by public transport.”

Construction of the new platform is being carried out by Network Rail. Specification for the work has been underway since last year and is due to be fully completed by the summer 2013.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "We know that the quality and accessibility of stations is an important issue for passengers, this is why our £370m Access for All programme is delivering step free access at over 150 stations and other access improvements at over 1,000 stations.

He added: "The Network Rail project at Alexandra Palace complies with current accessibility requirements as set out in the Department's established code of practice."