Installing barriers on an old footbridge over the tracks at Biggleswade railway station could be the first step towards closing these stairways, a councillor has warned.
Long-awaited improvements, including lifts and a new ramp and footbridge, are part of a Network Rail planning application submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council.
Ramped access from near the current buildings leading to a new bridge across all four platforms is set to transform the station.
The proposals were considered for comment at a Biggleswade Town Council meeting on Tuesday, June 1.
Although “broadly supportive” of the scheme, town councillor Mark Knight raised the issue of access via the old station bridge.
“The detail of the project proposes sliding gates on the bridge which could potentially block access to the platforms,” he explained.
“The plans say when the station isn’t open, but there’s also a hint it may be an operational decision.
“It seems quite likely these sliding gates may be closed much of the time, potentially tending towards all of the time.
“For residents east of the railway line it means quite a lot further to walk. I prefer to see the footbridges remain open and accessible.
“I appreciate the older parts don’t meet modern standards, but users have the choice to use the new path or the old one.”
Town Councillor Rob Pullinger agreed, saying: “The concern is around that bridge and there’s also a potential safety issue in terms of egress from the station in an emergency.
“The proposed route out would send everyone down a narrow part of the new bridge.
“I would propose no objection but ask in a planning condition that the gates remain open during the station operating hours.”
Campaigners for step-free access to the railway station were consulted along with train operator Govia Thameslink Railway, the local MP Richard Fuller, town mayor Madeline Russell and CBC over the draft design.
Lifts and steps are to be provided down to each platform.
Conservative Biggleswade South and town Councillor Mark Foster said: “We’ve needed this in Biggleswade for a long time. We should be embracing and certainly not be objecting to this.”
Councillor Knight added: “The station is pretty much open 24 hours a day.
“I wouldn’t like to see the barriers closed just when there are no staff on the station, which could be alot of the time.
“I would prefer there are no barriers or that they’re always open.
“The steps are in quite a bad state of repair, so I suspect this is a path towards closing the stairways permanently in the future if we don’t fight to keep them open.”
Deputy mayor Grant Fage told the meeting that was his main concern.
Town Councillor Colin Thomas said: “We’re trying to get extra access for people, not make it worse.
“If a train’s delayed and the station’s shut nobody can get in.”
Town councillor Duncan Strachan referred to “the use of marker tape across the station entrance for a practical reason, when trains aren’t running or aren’t stopping”.
“That might be one of the reasons why they want the barrier,” he suggested.
Town councillors agreed to support the scheme, but want a planning condition ensuring the gates remain open when the station is operational.
CBC’s development management committee will consider whether to approve or refuse the application in due course.
