Confusion Over Lift at Central Line Station
TfL say matter is under review, despite suggestion to the contrary
Transport for London have denied the suggestion that there will definitely be no lift at Shepherd’s Bush Central line station, saying the matter is still being considered.
A TfL official appeared to admit that a decision had already been taken not to install a lift, during a public meeting at the Village Hall on Thursday (4 December) evening.
Responding to a question from a local resident on the legality of not providing step-free access at the station, the official from London Overground – which is part of TfL - told a packed Village Hall that there would be no lift because there was no money for it.
However, a TfL spokesperson told ShepherdsBushW12.com on Friday (5 December) morning that this was not the case and the issue was still being looked into: “We are still examining options for providing a lift at Shepherd’s Bush. Nothing has changed,” the spokesperson said. “We would like to put in a lift at Shepherd’s Bush and are endeavouring to do that. We have to look at best value for money, and the engineering is difficult there. No decision has been made.”
According to TfL, the Central line platforms are offset from the ticket-hall by some distance, meaning work to install a lift would involve “significant tunnelling work which would make the project extremely costly and technically challenging”.
“As any scheme is likely to cost up to £100m, any decision that TfL makes will be in the context of its overall obligations and funding priorities at that time,” a Transport for London spokesperson told ShepherdsBushW12.com earlier this year.
Elderly and disabled residents say the lack of step-free access makes it difficult or impossible for them to use the station.
Shepherd’s Bush MP Andy Slaughter, who called Thursday’s public meeting, said: “What is clear is that LU said nothing about the failure to provide a lift until it came out at the public meeting a year ago - since then they have said it is under review. Surely they must have decided by now but are not saying anything because of the public outrage this would provoke.”
Cllr Nicholas Botterill, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Environment, who was also present at the meeting said: "TfL pledged to put step-free access into this station and, while we welcome the fact the station has re-opened, the Council and community groups intend to hold TfL to their promise of providing step-free access. We won't let this matter rest."
Yasmine Estaphanos
5 December 2008
