Green MP Siân Berry invited the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Keir Mather, to meet Preston Park station campaigners and hear about the accessibility upgrades that are vitally needed.
Speaking in the House of Commons, she highlighted that the Government has culled the number of stations that were set to receive ‘Access for All’ funding from 50 to eight ‘definites’ and 19 ‘maybes’.
Siân said:
“For visitors travelling to fabulous events hosted at the nearby park—like the Foodies festival in May and the concert due to be held in July by adopted local rock god Nick Cave, and the Bad Seeds—Preston Park station should be the obvious get-off point, yet for decades it has been overlooked when it comes to funding bids to address accessibility issues.
“Without step-free access, my local residents are required to travel 2 miles to Brighton mainline station to board trains there, and this can be in addition to calling ahead to pre-book the use of a ramp at that station. This is all an unreasonable adjustment. Yet, despite all these problems and the potential benefits of fixing them, in May 2024, in the dying days of the last Government, Preston Park station did not make the 50-station shortlist for Access for All funding.
“I invite the Minister to visit Preston Park station to meet my dedicated local campaigners, and to see the multiple issues faced not just by disabled passengers and those with access needs, but by the general public as well. I invite him to see these problems at first hand.”
Siân’s speech can be read in full here.