Daisy Hill railway station lift delay

Councillor Deirdre McGeown at Daisy Hill station

Passengers with disabilities or mobility problems will be waiting for more than a year before a new lift is finally installed at Daisy Hill railway station.

Requests have been put forth for the installation of an elevator at the station. However, due to delays in the project and escalating expenses, a reevaluation of the contract was necessary.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) was aiming to finalise the contract by August.

Commuters using Daisy Hill station have long expressed their frustration as the station's platforms are solely accessible via a staircase.

Both councillor David Wilkinson and town mayor councillor Deirdre McGeown emphasised the vital importance of the elevator in ensuring equal access to public transportation for all.

Councillor Wilkinson raised concerns about the construction timeline, which is anticipated to commence in March 2024, with the lift's completion and handover projected for March 2025.

“I've persistently inquired about TfGM's considerations since the cost estimate surpassed the initial budget allocation," Cllr Wilkinson said. “Initially, I harboured genuine concerns that we might not even secure a lift. Regrettably, while provisional plans are in place, there's now an additional year projected for the project's culmination. This extension is disheartening.”

“The delay has a particularly adverse impact on individuals with disabilities, those with strollers, or those facing physical limitations, impeding their access to the platform," he added. "I am cautiously optimistic that this will come to fruition without further setbacks, given the prolonged anticipation and the station's significance as a mainline route to Manchester.”

Councillor Deirdre McGeown added her perspective, saying: “For many, steps present an insurmountable obstacle, especially for those with disabilities. Thus, lifts are imperative wherever steps are present in public spaces.”

“While I don't personally have a disability, I do have arthritis in my knees, which makes ascending steps a time-consuming and painful effort. People with disabilities have been promised a solution for years," she continued. “Without a lift, Daisy Hill Station remains inaccessible to numerous individuals in Westhoughton. It is simply unacceptable that they have endured such a prolonged wait.”