BCP Council is calling on national rail operators to accelerate long-promised accessibility improvements at Pokesdown Station, warning that years of delays have pushed costs to a point where the local authority would struggle to commit its previously agreed financial contribution.
The call comes when the BCP Council is reviewing its financial position as it prepares to bring forward proposals to balance the budget and set the level of council tax for the year ahead.
Councillor Mike Cox CBE, Cabinet member for Finance, said: “Like many residents, we want to see improved accessibility at all railway stations at all seven train stations across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – including Pokesdown.
“While the previous administration agreed a provisional contribution towards the lifts at Pokesdown, the length of time it has taken rail companies to progress the work means the borrowing costs have increased significantly and this is forcing us to change our position.
“We would need to borrow the money to pay for these improvements, and the £2.6 million cost originally earmarked would actually cost residents across our three towns £9.75 million in total over the 50-year term of the loan, if you include interest payments. That’s nearly £200,000 per year that could go towards funding services that benefit all residents across out three towns.
“At a time when we’re making difficult decisions because our funding from central government has reduced while the cost and demand for our services has increased, we simply can’t justify spending nearly £10 million on something that is the responsibility of the rail operator, and when we are having to take difficult decisions to protect services for the most vulnerable in our community.
“Rail stations and their infrastructure are the responsibility of national rail bodies. Our residents should not be expected to subsidise what is ultimately the remit of Network Rail and Great British Railways.”
Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet member for Transport added: “We will continue to work constructively with Network Rail and Great British Railways to keep the much-needed improvements at Pokesdown a priority, and we welcome the support of our local MPs in championing investment for accessibility at all our stations.
“National operators oversee a multibillion-pound capital programme across the UK; we will keep pressing for the investment our area needs, both on station accessibility and on services.
“Our commitment to accessibility remains firm and we will update residents as discussions progress.”
On 11 February, BCP Council’s Cabinet will consider a report recommending that the council withdraw the provisional funding contribution agreed to in January 2022.
If the contribution were maintained, the council would need to borrow £2.6 million over a 50‑year term, costing BCP taxpayers over £195,000 a year in repayments – a total of £9.75 million.
