Campaign for Step-free Access at East Putney Ramps Up

Fleur Anderson MP calls for station to be made accessible

Fleur Anderson MP left with residents campaigning for a lift at East Putney

February 13, 2023

Just a week after the launch of a petition in favour of a lift being installed at East Putney tube station, over 900 people have signed.

The petition was started by Fleur Anderson MP after constituents raised the issue of the lack of step-free access at the station.

The Labour MP was outside East Putney Station this Thursday (9 February) and Friday with local residents and disability access advocates this week collecting signatures for a petition to the Secretary of State for Transport and Transport for London (TfL). She was joined on both days by local volunteers to help leaflet commuters on their way in and out of the station.

Along with Councillor Finna Ayres, she is arguing that a lift is required to improve access for those in wheelchairs, with buggies and prams, as well as those with mobility issues. They say that East Putney meets all criteria for lift access as designated by TfL. Annual footfall at the station is estimated to be 6.12 million by the last figures which were before COVID, which fall well above the footfall of other stations which were awarded a lift in the last round of TfL grants.

The Putney MP said, “We desperately need a lift at East Putney Station. Anyone who has climbed the perilous steps up to each of the platforms will know how steep they are. East Putney has very high user numbers of nearly 6.2 million which mean that there are also very high numbers of people unable to use the station. There is a very strong case for the station to receive funding."

"It is incredibly difficult for disabled people, people with mobility issues and those with buggies and prams to get around our local area. Having a lift installed at the station would open up the network to thousands of residents. I’m asking, alongside local Councillor Finna Ayres, that residents sign and share the petition as widely as possible. We need to really highlight the local demand for better access at East Putney Station.”

Local resident and disabled access advocate Sarah Orr added, "I am delighted that Fleur and Councillor Finna Ayres are campaigning for a lift at East Putney Station and that so many local people have already signed. A lift would literally transform my ability to use public transport. So many local people - those in wheelchairs, those with mobility issues, those with buggies and prams to name a few - are currently excluded from using greener, cheaper public transport. We desperately need to make our networks accessible to everyone. Please do sign and share this petition."

Since the pandemic struck and reduced fares income for TfL, the organisations programme of making its network step-free has slowed. The Government’s Access for All Programme helps rail stations across the country improve accessibility to their stations. But TfL stations have been excluded from this source of funding. Ms Anderson is demanding the Transport Secretary urgently extend this programme to help TfL to help Londoners in the same way they improve access for passengers across the country.

She previously led a debate in Parliament on step-free access to East Putney in March 2020, in which she set out the case for installing a lift. The MP argues that connectivity with Putney Station and Putney Bridge, neither of which currently have disabled access, is crucial to the local area.

She also contends that the congestion resulting from the closure of Hammersmith Bridge makes improved public transport access imperative. In addition, she highlighted that the station is used by thousands of football fans per month and stated that nobody should be excluded from sports due to inaccessible transport systems.

The Putney MP concludes, "Lots of local people with prams, those who use the station to travel with large suitcases, people in wheelchairs and with mobility issues have described what a nightmare it is to use East Putney station at the moment. I'm really passionate about fighting for better access for all of our residents. It's important to point out that this is a long process. Getting a lift installed at East Putney station is a project that will take years. Our first hurdle is to get on to the longlist of stations that TfL will consider upgrading with a lift, then we need to make the shortlist. This stage is crucial, as we need to illustrate that there is huge local demand."

Mark Evers, Transport for London's Chief Customer Officer, said,“Making our transport network more accessible and inclusive is a top priority for us, as we know that a more accessible public transport network benefits everyone.

“We understand the importance of providing Step-free Access at as many stations as possible. Providing Step-free access in existing infrastructure is challenging, but the responses to our recent step-free access consultation have shaped our short-term work to improve accessibility and will shape our long-term goals where funding is available.”