A THIRTY year campaign will finally be resolved as all railway stations will become fully accessible across the city region.
With no lifts at Garswood station, residents and councillors have long campaigned for improved accessibility as many commuters have struggled to get across to the other side of the platform.
There has been a similar issue at Earlestown station, and after increasing calls for funding, the Liverpool City Region has committed to making all stations accessible by 2030.
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Earlestown station also suffers from a lack of lift access (Image: St Helens Star)
Securing funding from the government's 'Access for All' programme, which aims to create obstacle-free railway stations across the country, the Liverpool City Region recently announced plans to install lifts at the Aigburth, Port Sunlight, Rock Ferry, and Walton Merseyrail stations.
The previous Conservative government cancelled local plans to invest in six other stations, which included Earlestown, but metro mayo Steve Rotheram confirmed his commitment to make all railway stations across the city region fully accessible by 2030.
This will be funded by the Combined Authority and the 'Access for All' programme, while Mr Rotheram also announced plans to create three new accessible railway stations by the end of the decade, including Carr Mill in St Helens.
Steve Rotheram has committed to making all stations accessible by 2030 (Image: PA)
Following the metro mayor's commitment, Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron has proposed a motion to ensure the council works alongside with partners to deliver the accessibility improvements at Garswood and Earlestown stations.
The motion also asks the council to reiterate its support for the proposed Carr Mill station, explore options to host a 'Rocket 190' exhibition in Rainhill, and deliver further transport improvements.
Cllr Gomez-Aspron has proposed a motion for the council to commit to work on transport projects (Image: Cllr Gomez-Aspron)
Speaking about the accessibility plans, deputy leader of St Helens Council and cabinet member for strategic transport, Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron said: "It’s been a long campaign, but it shows what can be done when a Labour Parish Council, Borough Council and City Region work together.
"It’s fantastic that Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has committed to make all stations step free access, and that’s means for us when Earlestown and Garswood are done, every station in the borough will be accessible.
"We are leading a transport revolution with station upgrades, a new station at Carr Mill and bringing busses back into public ownership.
"This is what Labour can do when in power. We will be pushing to go first, working with the city region and our track record of delivering such key infrastructure projects. ”
Billinge and Seneley Green councillor, Sue Murphy, added: "I have campaigned for almost 30 years and I thank everyone who supported the campaign along the way, including Dave Watts, Conor McGinn and David Baines as our MPs.
"Working with our parish and borough council, with the support of the Metro Mayor, we now have a solution on the horizon before 2030.
"This is exactly what Garswood needs and we are delighted it is coming to fruition."
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