Newbury Park Station: Step-free access photo-call

The Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents' Association (SKNPRA) organised a photo-call to encourage Transport for London to carry on the work of installing access free lifts at Newbury Park Station, started in 2009 and abandoned due to lack of funds.  Over 60 folk arrived on Saturday 13th July including Lee Scott MP and Mike Gapes MP, Councillors, Revd Jon Evens and Revd Kate Lovesey, and GLA member Roger Evans.

Local activist, Ron Jeffries said: "What a terrific turnout at Newbury Park this morning - two MPs, two C of E priests, numerous Councillors - I counted some 62 in the photograph I took from the top of the ladder. This morning gave me hope for the future - that so many folk rose from their Saturday slumbers on possibly the hottest day of the year."

Peter Robinson, who organised the photoshoot for SKNPRA said: "I would like to thank everyone who attended this morning's photo-shoot at Newbury Park Underground station, to show their support of our campaign to get the work on the installation of lifts at the station completed, five years after it was started.

We knew at the outset that persuading London Underground that these lifts were not only necessary, but a good idea, was not going to be easy and the responses we have received from them so far only serve to strengthen our determination to keep this matter on everyone's agenda. Looking around the assembled crowd this morning, with Labour and Conservative MPs and Councillors, members of various Residents Associations and others confirms the wide support for the campaign across the whole community."

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Vashti Bunyan - Train Song.

ACCESS FOR ALL AT NEWBURY PARK UNDERGROUND STATION

Why Seven Kings and Newbury Park Resident's Association think the installation of lifts at Newbury Park Station is not only essential but desirable: -

1. The financial situation of TfL is now much improved. This being augmented by income from the
Olympic Games sale of tickets, both from the IOC directly and the general public.

2. The improved facilities at Stratford particularly the lift installations on all platforms have been of
great assistance to disabled people as well as those with prams, buggies and luggage. In many
cases enabling them to attend the Olympics and the Stratford Westfield shopping centre.

3. The installation of two lifts at Newbury Park Station, we understand would be a simple and cheap
operation (perhaps the reason it was selected in the first place) as comparable to some other
stations.

4. It is also worth noting that Newbury Park station is the first point of entry to the underground
system for people living in Romford and further along the A12.

5. It is one of the few underground stations in the area with significant car parking facilities, 456
spaces, including 6 disabled bays.

6. This district has an aging population and hence a large number of people who are
disabled. Unlike many other stations which have either lifts and/or escalators for part of movement
from platform to street Newbury Park has neither. Therefore many are prohibited from using the
station altogether for this reason.

It is an additional blow to the local community that changes to the Crossrail plans mean that Seven Kings rail station will be one of the few on the route that will not have step-free access.

If you would like to get involved in the campaign and add your voice you can write to: -

a. Mike Brown, MVO, Managing Director of London Underground, 55 Broadway, London SW1H
0BD.

b. Mr Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk,
More London, London, SE1 2AA. Email: mayor@london.gov.uk (please provide your full postal address in the email).

c. Mr Roger Evans, Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, More London,
London SE1 2AA. Note: Roger is the elected GLA member for Havering and Redbridge.
Email: roger.evans@london.gov.uk (please provide your full postal address in the email).

Please copy in email SKNPRA committee members Peter Robinson and Mark Kennedy respectively as: Robbo.1962@yahoo.co.uk and markkennedy18@hotmail.com on all correspondence.

PHOTOSHOOT and PUBLICITY Opportunity:

If you can, please attend the photo-shoot that we are organising at the Newbury Park tube
Station on Saturday 13th July 2013 at 10:15 am. Gather outside Newbury Park station
entrance. The photo should take around 15 to 20 minutes to organise.

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Tom Waits - Downtown Train.