From the
Dorset Echo:
THE call for improved access at a Dorchester train station has finally been answered.
Dorchester Area Community Partnership, working with local councils, has raised ^150,000 to improve access to Dorchester West station.
Residents have been pleading for improved access after the footpath from Damer^s Road to the north side of the train station was closed last July by developer Taylor Wimpey as it carried out work on the nearby Queen^s Park development. The closure was initially only for 30 weeks but train users have said the new path has steep steps making it impossible for wheelchair users, mothers with prams and cyclists. But work to create a new sloped footpath should begin in spring or early summer next year and it is hoped to be complete in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Broadmayne mum Annette Craddock, whose four-year-old son Sam has Down^s Syndrome and uses a pram, previously told the Echo the footpath was ^awful^ and ^not on at all^.
After hearing the news that plans for a new footpath were underway, she said: ^It^s marvellous. It^s remarkable to have a bit of good news like this. This really has to be applauded.^
The new access scheme, which is being designed by Dorset County Council in collaboration with Network Rail, will provide access to the north-bound platform from William^s Avenue. The sloped path will enable wheelchair users, prams and cyclists to access the platform without having to go over the station bridge.
Chairman of Dorchester Area Community Partnership, Wally Gundry, said the group is a voluntary body that works alongside local councils to help people in the local community.
He said: ^This is access for all, whether it^s mothers with children, disabled or cyclists. We are extremely pleased with the support of all the local councils ^ we couldn^t thank them enough, especially in these times. It is quite an achievement.^
Dorset County Council^s traffic manager Tim Westwood said work should begin during spring or early summer next year.
Mr Westwood said: ^We started looking at the access to Dorchester West around three years ago when the government put some money into a pot and called it ^Access for All^. We, as an authority, with Network Rail and First Great Western, had considered building an improved footpath but we weren^t busy enough as a station to gain the government funding which would have been half of the cost of the scheme being ^75,000. Instead, we managed to fund the footpath in full with the support of West Dorset District Council, Dorchester Town Council and Dorchester Area Community Partnership. We are hoping to have this completed for the 2012 Olympic Games.^
He added: ^It^s a big step forward for access.^
Dorset County Council has contributed ^84,000, West Dorset District Council has contributed ^35,000, Dorchester Area Community Partnership contributed ^26,500 and Dorchester Town Council contributed ^10,000.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: ^Improving access to stations is an important part of building a bigger and better railway, and we support in principle any opportunity to work with other organisations to achieve this."
Click on the map to explore geographics
