Access Granted!

Protesters at Wymondham Station a year ago called for proper access to platform 2

I HAVE to say that today, 28th September 2020, is a red-letter day for me in my journey as a local councillor because today, our little train station in Wymondham was awarded £600,000 from the Department of Transport.

For those not familiar with the situation, access to platform 2 (Cambridge bound) was denied to many potential travellers: disabled, elderly with mobility problems, parents/carers with baby buggies. Even travellers with heavy luggage had to struggle over the stairs. And cyclists would hoist their cycles aloft to traverse two sets of stairs. No lifts. No ramps. No hope.

The saddest story I heard was of a young man who was suited and booted, and arrived by train at platform 2 for an ongoing journey for a job interview. He asked a fellow passenger how to get to the Norwich bound platform 1 as he was going to get a taxi to Hethel. She told him he would have to cross over the bridge and the two sets of stairs. Unknown to the woman, the man had a disability with poor mobility which meant he couldn’t climb stairs. So in order to get to the other side, he had to sit on the stairs and shuffle his way up and down to reach platform 1. In his suit. For an interview. Did I mention it was raining?

It is a scandal that in this day and age, we could put a man on the moon but not people onto a train station platform.

Until now.

One of the protesters Cllr Dave Roberts of WAG and daughter (bottom right) and my own daughter Janan on Platform 2

£600K in funding will go towards proper access , potentially allowing for many more users of the railway which, let’s face it, is one of the ways we can improve our transport locally for ALL of our residents and welcome many more to our wonderful little Town.

When I first came to Wymondham, I heard about the Station access problem and when I got elected, promised I would try to do something about this. Of course many people were involved in making this happen including Wymondham Access Group who helped campaign with us last year. Which proves the importance of allies. One person can make a difference. But many more people makes a problem much harder to ignore and it would be most ungracious of me to claim this victory for myself.

But right now, it feels very good indeed.

I’m off to run another victory lap around the kitchen.

Until next time…

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