East Putney Station: Step-free Access

Opened the debate

Fleur Anderson, a new Member of Parliament for Putney, raised concerns about the lack of step-free access at East Putney tube station. She highlighted that over 6 million passengers use the station annually and emphasised its importance to disabled residents, parents of small children, and elderly people who face significant barriers due to steep staircases. Anderson argued that upgrading East Putney should be prioritised as it would enhance transport integration with nearby stations like Putney, which has lifts but lacks interconnectivity. She also pointed out the economic benefits, noting a £2.9 return for every pound invested in station accessibility and the need to improve air quality and reduce pollution-related health issues. Anderson requested that Transport for London reconsider excluding East Putney from its step-free access programme and called on the Government to urgently allocate more funding.

Government Response

Chris Heaton-Harris acknowledged Fleur Anderson's concerns about step-free access at East Putney tube station. He emphasised the importance of accessibility for all passengers and noted that while Transport for London has made progress, there are still many older stations without such facilities due to costs and time constraints. He stated that East Putney is not included in TfL’s current business plan under its step-free access programme but assured Anderson he would work with TfL on this issue. He outlined the Department for Transport's inclusive transport strategy and highlighted £300 million of funding available for 73 stations through the Access For All programme, plus an additional £50 million hoped to be announced soon for another 12 stations. Despite London Underground stations not being eligible for this funding, Harris expressed his commitment to making improvements where possible. He committed to reviewing TfL’s decision regarding East Putney and pledged to work closely with TfL to address accessibility challenges.