JustBeingCP

Ledbury railway station in Herefordshire is currently inaccessible to those with disabilities or mobility issues from one of its two platforms.

Earlier this year I wrote to the Minister for Rail and HS2, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE regarding the need for the station to be accessible to all.

At the point of right this post I am yet to hear back from officials at the Department for Transport regarding this issue, which I find very disappointing to say the least.

However, I’ve come up with a reasonable solution that may solve the problem of a lack of accessibility for now at least.

Those of you reading this will know that for the last couple of years I have been working with the team at West Midlands Railway on an accessibility project which is designed to put waiting spaces in various different stations.

The blue and white boxes which feature a white wheelchair logo and the words “ for mobility assistance, please wait here “.

There is also signage mirroring the same messaging which is positioned either near to where the spaces are located on the platforms or directly behind them.

As a Herefordshire resident who uses a wheelchair to navigate everyday life, I would love to visit the market town of Ledbury by rail and I strongly believe that this could be possible in the not too distant future thanks to these accessibility improvements.

I am fully aware that this is not the solution that everybody was hoping for, but in my view the preferred option will not become a reality in my lifetime.

My message to the people of our beautiful county is this, an accessible waiting space on the accessible platform at Ledbury railway station is going to change lives for now at least.

All I ask is that you remember these words “ for mobility assistance, please wait here”

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In the meantime, I would once again like to place on record my thanks to the accessibility team at West Midlands railway and London Northwestern railway who have gone above and beyond to ensure that our community can travel around the region with ease and confidence.

Thank you to each and everyone of you, my regular loyal readers and social media followers who continually take the time out of your busy schedules to read my latest posts, it does not go unnoticed and is of course very much appreciated as always.

Cam