Disability campaigners head to No 10 with station dossier

DISABILITY campaigners are heading to Number 10 Downing Street next week to hand in a dossier about their objections for plans for the new £16m train station entrance in Leeds.

The group, headed by campaigner Tim McSharry, the chairman of the Access Committee for Leeds, and Victor Jackson, of the National Federation for the Blind, will meet with the chairwoman of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman, on Monday.

The campaigners are involved in an ongoing row with Network Rail about access for disabled people to the new south entrance to the station.

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They say the plans for the entrance, due to open in 2014, which links to the waterfront area and the south side of the city, are aimed at pedestrians and neglect the needs of wheelchair users or those who need to be dropped off by car or taxi.

Mr McSharry said: “The access is simply not good enough for disabled people. This project needs to comply with all relevant equality legislation and accessible design standards. The support received from disability, older peoples and carers organisations, locally and nationally, has been amazing.

“And, as part of this joint campaign for transport equality and inclusion, we are visiting Downing Street on January 6 to discuss our concerns in more detail. As part of our fight for transport equality, we are grateful to councillors Keith Wakefield and Neil Taggart for the support to ensure the voices of station users are considered.”

Network Rail spokesman said: “The new entrance includes step-free access, through provision of a lift and ramps, to all platforms and public areas of the station.”

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