Fight goes on for disabled access at Wivenhoe station

Colchester Local Highway Panel has begun to resurface a footpath under the small railway bridge after securing permission from Network Rail and Greater Anglia.

The project has been in the pipeline for the past two years but faced recent delays due to heavy rain.

But for Wivenhoe councillor Julie Young, who has campaigned for better access to the station for several years, this is only a partial victory.

She said: “The path will provide a link we’ve never been able to have in the past so I’m delighted something has finally been done.

“But going forward I’d love to see a better solution.

“What I would’ve done in terms of priority is a proper resurface along Clifton Terrace.

“An access route there would’ve been my priority but I was told it was undeliverable.”

Essex Highways had knocked back Mrs Young’s plea for a disabled ramp at Clifton Terrace, near the station, back in 2014, saying it had not passed the “validation process”.

Correspondence from a liaison officer at the time said: “It is felt this would be an issue for Network Rail to deal with”.

The lack of available space and the gradient needed meant it was “unlikely any design would be considered safe or Disability Discrimination Act compliant”.

Mrs Young explained talks with Network Rail have also been fruitless and claimed the firm said it would cost £1 million to put two lifts at the station.

A spokesman for Essex Highways confirmed there is a budget of up to £20,000 allocated for the footpath improvement works which will improve wheelchair access to the north side platform.

Being wheelchair-bound after breaking her leg six weeks ago means these issues are now her reality too.

She said: “I’m learning a lot about the barriers people face.

“I’m even beginning to say now, ‘It’s not do I want to go, it’s can I go’.

“You can see how difficult life is when you’re trying to navigate the world in a wheelchair.”

A Greater Anglia spokesman said: “Unfortunately, there is no step-free access for passengers travelling towards Clacton or Walton.

“However they can board the train at either Hythe or Alresford.

“We’re sorry there isn’t a better alternative.

“We’re trying to make our railway as accessible as possible, but in some cases we’re dealing with old stations which are difficult to make accessible.

“We advise people to pre-book assistance if they’re able to plan their journey in advance and where step-free access isn’t available, we’ll arrange for a taxi to take them to the next accessible station.”