Hopes are rising that a long-inaccessible railway station in Wallasey could be included in the latest access improvements funded by the Department for Transport.
Wallasey Village Station, on the New Brighton Line, cannot be used by people in wheelchairs or with disabilities, parents with prams or people with bags of shopping. Three flights, of 39 steps have long been an obstacle to residents in the town.
Campaigners have been calling for lifts to be installed as part of the ‘Access for All’ programme. Since 2006, the programme has delivered step free accessible routes at more than 200 stations, with smaller-scale accessibility improvements at more than 1,500 stations.
Councillors in Wallasey have been pushing since then for Wallasey Village station to be included in the programme, including a meeting on site with the then Rail Minister, Paul Maynard MP.
Following the introduction of step free access at Birkenhead Park, Hunt’s Cross and Hillside stations in 2022, Councillors Lesley Rennie and Ian Lewis met with another Transport Minister, Richard Holden in February 2023 to again push for Wallasey Village. Following that meeting, he confirmed that the station had been included in a list of stations that could benefit from the fund.
Now, after further requests from the two councillors, Minister of State for Transport, Huw Merriman MP, has confirmed in his letter of 15 April that a decision is imminent:
"As part of our recent Network North announcement, the Government confirmed £350m will be made available to improve the accessibility of train stations across Great Britain.
"We are assessing over 300 nominations for funding under the Access for All programme, including a nomination for Wallasey Village railway station. If successful, the funding will create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to platforms.
“I hope to be able to provide an update on successful nominations by the Spring.”
Councillor Lesley Rennie said:
“The latest annual figures from the Office of Rail and Road reported that 103,000 passengers used Wallasey Village station.
“Many of those passengers will have struggled with the steps to and from the platforms, while countless others will have been unable to use the station at all.
“Residents have told us time and time again that they are unable to use the Merseyrail network due to the steps at the station and various Transport Ministers have agreed to look at what can be done.
“We’re hopeful now, following the latest letter from the Department for Transport, that our long-running campaign will finally see lifts installed at Wallasey Village station.
Councillor Ian Lewis added:
"There has been steady growth in the number of people using the trains over the last 30 years, alongside investment in new trains and better station facilities yet many people in Wallasey Village cannot benefit from this.
“If the Department for Transport agrees, then the obstacle at Wallasey Village will be tackled and access provided for anyone who wants to use the train. However, if the bid is not agreed, then we will shall fight on until it is.”
