Weston super Mare Station - accessibility, facilities and improvements

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury:

Weston railway station could see a new caf^ added to it, if plans submitted to North Somerset Council are approved.



An area currently used for storage will be converted to make room for the caf^ according to the plans.

If planning permission is granted, a small storage area would be retained alongside the new caf^ and kitchen.

It would open between 7am-7pm seven days a week and would create six part-time jobs. It is believed the Off The Rails pub on the platform will remain despite the proposed changes.

[grahame]

I'm connecting from train to bus in Weston tomorrow - route 21 from Neva Road to Brean.   New journey to me, and the on line journey planner has given me this walking map at Weston-super-mare station.



Is there a more direct walk?   Station entrance on the same side as the bus stop, perhaps?

[Southern Stag]

How strange. Not only is there an entrance on the same side as the bus stop, it's also the main entrance with all the facilities, and the side which most services call at.

[Tim]

How strange. Not only is there an entrance on the same side as the bus stop, it's also the main entrance with all the facilities, and the side which most services call at.

The map has got you leaving the station by the "back entrance" on the platform 1 side.  This may be because your train will come in at that platform (assuming you are heading from Chippenham/Swindon/Melksham) or maybe because the road at that side is called "Station Approach"  or maybe journey planner has given you the step free route avoiding the steps of the station overbridge.. 

If you take the overbridge and exit the station from the platform 2 side (as Southern Stag says that is the "main side" with the shop, ticket office, waiting room and customer assistance) you will the same side of the station as the main exit with the bus stops and taxi rank

 http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_WSM/plan.html

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Weston-super-Mare railway station access 'unacceptable'


Great Western Railway said improvement work to the footbridge was planned for 2017

A temporary measure for disabled access at Weston-super-Mare railway station is "totally unacceptable", an equality forum has said.

People with mobility needs have been asked to call in advance if they require help accessing Platform One.

A footbridge has been the only general way to get to the platform since last summer when anti-social behaviour led to its main entrance being closed.

Great Western Railway said funding was in place for improving the access.


There are no plans to permanently reopen the platform door


Anti-social behaviour was cited for the closure of the entrance

This is likely to mean a new bridge but work is not expected to start until next year, according to spokesman Dan Panes. In the meantime the platform door would be open on some occasions when possible.

"Whenever possible, we do ask people to call in advance because it does mean we are able to organise things more quickly and make sure we have enough staff in the right place," Mr Panes added.

However, Gordon Richardson - vice chair of the Bristol Equality Forum- said he thought that was "totally unacceptable today".

"If all they have to do is open a door, why should I have to tell them 24 hours in advance?," he told BBC Radio Bristol. "Why can't they have something where perhaps you come to that door, there's an intercom and they can then open the door for you and let you in?"

Tina Keddy, a station user from the town, is also unhappy about the temporary measures. On a recent trip to Bath with her 81-year-old mother, she said she asked a guard if there was help for the disabled "and he said 'no'".

"Mum has arthritis in her spine and in her knee. We were there in plenty of time so slowly we went up the steps, along the top, and down the other side but it was very difficult."

[trainer]

It seems that the way chosen to deal with anti-social behaviour is to make those with mobility problems suffer. Are not they the people paying the train companies the money to travel?  I wonder how much of this is to do with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) being unable/willing to staff the entrance.  Because there are barriers at the main entrance, which presumably are monitored when in use, it would be necessary to have someone on both entrances if the barriers are to be effective.

Once again the innocent pay the price for the guilty and in this case not just in financial terms.

[JayMac]

There are no barriers on the main entrance at Weston-super-Mare. Even if there were there's no need for staff at both entrances. Remote monitoring is quite common at stations with more than one entrance/exit. Swindon has it, as does Taunton.

That said, it is unacceptable to have to call in advance to be released from the station. Many folk, be they less able, disabled, or with a pushchair just will not know that they should call ahead.

And even if you do make arrangements for exit from Platform 1 or use of the barrow crossing you get told off by staff for doing so. I tweeted FGW^▸ (First Great Western) (as was) when I was travelling to Weston one day last year with a pushchair, asking them to arrange exit from P1. On arrival I was told by platform staff that I shouldn't be using Twitter to arrange exit. They are only, apparently, supposed to accept requests from 'Passenger Assistance', and then only if you are less able or disabled. Oh, and Taunton station staff wouldn't phone ahead either.

'Passenger Assistance' we are told is best booked at least 24 hours in advance. Seemingly for the railway's convenience.

Similar issues at Dawlish, that time told off by Twitter staff for daring to make such a request.

[John R]

When you think of the millions that are spent making stations (with much lower footfall than WSM) accessible, it does seem both bizarre and extremely customer unfriendly to adopt such an approach.

How are people expected to know in advance that they will arrive/depart on the platform that is inaccessible?

Oh, and on the National Rail site for WSM it says:-


Staff help available
    Yes
    During normal staffed hours.

Staff help available opening times
    Monday - Friday 05:30 - 00:30
    Saturday 05:30 - 00:30
    Sunday 07:00 - 01:00

Ramp for train access
    Yes

Step free access coverage
    Yes

Step free access note

    .
     
Wheelchairs available
    Yes

So, no mention of one platform being inaccessible, or needing to phone a day in advance.

[TaplowGreen]

.....I wonder if this is compliant with the DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about)?

[ChrisB]

Aren't stations that weren't compliant at the time the Act was passed exept from it unless seriously reconstructed?

[JayMac]

DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) is no longer on the statute book. Superseded by The Equality Act.

Service providers are required to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the needs of those with protected characteristics.

Whether calling in advance is a 'reasonable adjustment' is an exercise for the lawyers.

My belief (IANAL^▸ ('I am not a lawyer'.)) is that reasonable adjustments should however be in place for anyone with protected characteristics at the time of need. Able bodied people do not have to phone in advance to arrange exit from the station. Neither should those with protected characteristics.

[ChrisB]

The article doesn't actually state that the door won't be opened. Just that it will open quicker if you advise them in advance. What's wrong with that?

[trainer]

There are no barriers on the main entrance at Weston-super-Mare. Even if there were there's no need for staff at both entrances.

Isn't it amazing how one's memory can add in barriers that don't exist?  Thanks for the correction. This access business is a serious issue as is dealing with anti-social behaviour.

[JayMac]

The article doesn't actually state that the door won't be opened. Just that it will open quicker if you advise them in advance. What's wrong with that?

And if you don't know the layout of WSM and haven't read the article? You're first port of call may well be National Rail Enquiries online or by phone. Both those official sources will tell you that WSM's two platforms are fully accessible.

[plymothian]

Could you navigate Birmingham New Street using NRE^‡(resolve)?