Local campaigners were celebrating, as their open meeting to campaign for lifts at Pokesdown Station was a resounding
success.
The Pokesdown Community Forum (PCF) and Tobias Ellwood MP joined members of the public and representatives from Access
Dorset at the station to show their support for the campaign for Network Rail to install new lifts at Pokesdown Railway Station.
Amongst the crowd were potential passengers with buggies, double buggies, crutches, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, luggage,
shopping trolleys and
even a cello – to illustrate just how inaccessible the station is to a huge number of people.
The petition, with 1,300 signatures was handed over to Tobias Ellwood, MP, who said just how overwhelmed he was with the
number of people in the local community who had turned out to show their support. He commented: “The sheer volume of people
who have come together to show their support tonight is a clear illustration of the dire need for lifts at Pokesdown station.”
Tobias asked everyone to return to the station soon, when there will be an opportunity to meet the Secretary of State for
Transport, Stephen Hammond MP, who has said he will visit Pokesdown personally. The petition will be handed over in
Westminster and a meeting has been called between Mr Hammond, Mr Ellwood and representatives from SWT to agree a way
forward.
Pokesdown is the second busiest local station in the area, with 312,000 users in 201112
alone. It serves half of the town of
Bournemouth and is the main station for visitors to Boscombe, Southbourne and AFC Bournemouth and is therefore crucial for
the town’s tourism, yet there have been no lifts working on the station for around 30 years. The recent census for Pokesdown
and Boscombe shows that 20% of residents suffer from longterm
health problems or disability.
● With lifts shafts already in place, the PCF estimate that the cost of installing lifts will be in the region of £560,000, not the
£1.3m alleged by SWT.
● Issues with the free taxi supposedly supplied for disabled passengers by SWT were also raised. With many
highlighting it was unworkable as it involves filling in a claim form, 24 hour booking or even being denied to eligible
customers.
The platform for the busy local station is below street level and can only be accessed by over 42 very steep steps which cause
serious difficulties for people with mobility problems, those with young children in pushchairs and passengers with heavy
luggage.
Government funds do exist to make railways stations accessible under a scheme called ‘Access for All’, a major programme
improving accessibility at train stations nationwide by installing lifts and ramps. The fund has paid for 150 stations to be improved
since 2006. A further £100m will be available from 2015 to 2019, but the Department for Transport is not currently considering
Pokesdown for a share of this funding.
On 18th December 2013, when allocating more money, The Secretary of State for Transport told the industry to improve the
passenger experience at stations, including better passenger information and to provide easier access for older or disabled
passengers and passengers with small children.
The Pokesdown Community Forum have decided to spearhead the campaign for lifts, following overwhelming pleas from station
users, and are galvanising public support by with their online ‘change.org’ petition. The PCF are joined in the campaign by a range
of groups including Bournemouth Chamber of Commerce, Southbourne Business Association, Pokesdown Children’s Centre and
Access Dorset.