North Herefordshire MP 'disappointed' plans paused to improve Ledbury train station access
The Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed last week the scheme would not be progressing at this point as part of the Access for All (AfA) programme
North Herefordshire's MP has said she's frustrated a scheme to make getting around a train station in her constituency easier has been paused.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced last week Ledbury railway station is one of 19 stations across Britain that will not currently be progressing with accessibility upgrade plans as part of the Access for All (AfA) programme.
Only eight new projects from a list of 50 created by the previous government in May 2024 to have initial feasibility work carried out on them will move directly to delivery, while a further 23 projects will proceed to detailed designs following a review of feasibility studies.
The government added it had "carefully considered" the findings from the feasibility work and decisions were made based on criteria including the station’s usage levels, cost-effectiveness, available third-party funding contributions, and whether pre-existing technical development work was available.
It also added the rail minister has written to the MP representing each of the 50 stations announced by the previous government and has offered to meet to explain the decision for those 19 projects which will not be progressing at this point.
"I'm really disappointed to hear that Ledbury station's plans for making it more accessible have been put on hold, that the government haven't decided to take it forward to the next stage," said North Herefordshire Green MP Ellie Chowns.
"It's really frustrating, anybody who uses Ledbury station as I have done for years and many of my constituents too, we all know accessibility is a real issue.
"I really want the government to hear from me and from my constituents how important we feel it is that Ledbury is taking forward, I see it as my job to lobby the government as hard as I possibly can to bring forward that funding."
A DfT spokesperson said: “Our £280m Access for All funding is making railway stations more accessible by delivering step-free routes and new lifts.
“Funding decisions are based on how ready schemes are to progress.
Projects not taken forward at this stage, including Ledbury, are not ruled out and can be considered again in future funding rounds.”