• 124 stations across Great Britain to benefit from a share of £20 million for accessibility improvements

• latest in a series of improvements by the Transport Secretary to accelerate the pace of change for a more accessible transport network

• follows launch of new campaign to improve journeys for disabled people when using public transport

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Disabled passengers across Great Britain are set to benefit from accessibility improvements at 124 stations thanks to a £20 million government fund.

And Nailsea & Backwell is on the list.

But at our reckoning that is approximately £160,000 each and as the last estimate to improve access to our railway station was £10 million that seems some shortfall?

The enhancements were announced by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Thursday, February 26, to be funded through the Access for All programme and will include new lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens.

It comes as a new government campaign launched this week to improve the journeys of disabled passengers on public transport.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The ability to travel easily from A to B is an essential factor for our day to day lives - but is not the reality for everyone.“I recognise that we have much more to do, which is why we’re making 124 train stations across the country more accessible - a key part of levelling-up access for disabled people to transport and opening up opportunities for all.

“This is just the start of a much more ambitious agenda.

“My goal is to go much further in the years ahead to help ensure that our country’s transport system becomes one of the most accessible in the world.

“These improvements are being made through the Access for All programme which, since 2006, has already made more than 200 stations step free, as well as delivered smaller scale accessibility improvements at more than 1,500 others to improve passenger experience.

“The £20 million is part of a £300 million package announced last year which is already providing accessible, step free routes at 73 stations across Great Britain, making it easier for disabled people to travel on the UK’s rail network.”

Nailsea & Backwell wasn’t part of the £300 million package so it is fingers crossed yet again something will come of its decade long fight for improvements to the platform access on the Bristol to Weston line.

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said: “Everyone using our rail network deserves platforms and toilets they can use and this £20 million investment to improve 124 railway stations across the country will make a huge difference to disabled people.

​“This government is committed to levelling up the playing field and later this year we’ll launch a national strategy which will ensure disabled people have equal access to all spheres of life.

“This follows the launch of the it’s everyone’s journey advertising campaign to highlight how we can all play a part in making public transport inclusive.

“The campaign is being supported by more than 100 partners, including First Group, WHSmith Travel and the Alzheimer’s Society.

“Department for Transport research has shown that behaviours that make public transport a daunting place for disabled people are often unconscious, such as not looking out for a fellow passenger who might need a seat or be in distress.

‘it’s everyone’s journey’ will raise awareness about the needs of disabled people when using public transport, particularly people with non-visible impairments, and will also prompt members of the public to think and consider how their behaviour might impact others.”You can read more HERE.

​In September last year North Somerset councillor James Tonkin and wheelchair user Alison Morgan took the fight for improived access to Nailsea and Backwell railway station to the House of Commons.

For more than a decade Access For All campaigners have petitioned, threatened court action, appealed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and asked for public support to get First Great Western to install ramps at the railway station which is on the Bristol to Exeter line.

The last volley in this sorry saga came in a joint letter in the summer of 2019 from GWR managing director Mark Hopwood and Network Rail Western interim managing director Mike Gallop saying the cost of fixing Nailsea & Backwell railway station to make it accessible for disabled people is now estimated at £10 million and they just didn’t have any funds and there are embankment stability problems.

The station which sits on top of a 40ft embankment opened in 1841 and has two platforms but little in the way of facilities which disappeared after years of cuts and privatisation.

Back in 2011 everyone thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel when the government announced a £37.5 million scheme to improve stations under an Access For All Mid-Tier programme which allocated £1,023,000 to building new ramps at Nailsea and Backwell.

The work was due to start in 2013 but delayed until 2014 due to a need to repair subsidence on the embankment and while enlargement of the car park was completed.

However, due to the delays the funding was withdrawn, and the fiasco continues today.

Alison has been campaigning for improvements since 2008 was instrumental in getting the footpath under the railway bridge widened and a user-friendly path built at Backwell Lake.

She said: "I am not getting as excited about the station.

"It is great news that the Government has released more money to improve accessibility across the whole of the rail network.

"However, the amount allocated to the eight  West Country stations together is less than half the amount originally allocated to Nailsea and Backwell station alone back in 2011.

"I suspect that the best we can hope for under this funding is upgrades to the seating, shelters and signage at N&B, none of which is of any help to the passengers who can't access the station in the first place...maybe we are going to have a nice shiny sign telling us how to book a taxi?"

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