Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Hedge End Train Station: Accessibility

21 October 2020 · 2 other contributors

Opened by Paul Holmes Con Hamble Valley

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Paul Holmes raised concerns about hedge end train station: accessibility in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about lack of accessibility at Hedge End train station, impacting disabled individuals and those with mobility issues.
  • Population growth in Eastleigh borough has outpaced infrastructure development, leading to increased demand for accessible transport facilities.
  • Government committed to inclusive transport strategy, aiming to improve access for disabled people by 2030, with 350 million allocated to the Access for All programme.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Paul Holmes Con Hamble Valley

I rise to raise with the Government an issue that has been a long-standing concern of my constituents living in Hedge End, Botley, West End and Fair Oak, regarding the lack of accessibility at Hedge End train station. Over the past 20 years, Eastleigh borough's population has grown by 15%, almost double the national average rate, with significant increases in house building not matched by new infrastructure. Between 2001 and 2011, Dowd’s Farm development increased Hedge End North’s population by 33.6%. Currently, there are further 738 new homes planned for the next decade. Despite this growth, many constituents face difficulties entering Hedge End station due to a lack of lifts or wheelchair-accessible facilities. Parents with disabled children and commuters with mobility issues must use alternative stations like Southampton Airport Parkway or Eastleigh, adding additional costs and inconvenience. This situation discourages sustainable travel alternatives and poses challenges for the environment and local transport networks. With proper upgrades, we can improve access for disabled people, families, and promote greener travel options.

Other contributors (2)
  • Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North

    My right hon. Friend is correct; many constituents have written to me about their inability to use Hedge End station due to disabilities.

  • Drummond Con Meon Valley

    There are options to improve the footbridge from that side of the train station, but for long-term benefits and increased population usage, we need more substantial improvements.

Government Response

Chris Heaton-Harris

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his positive engagement regarding accessibility to the railway network at Hedge End station. The Department for Transport's inclusive transport strategy from 2018 aims to ensure that disabled people have the same access to transport as everyone else by 2030. We recognise the limitations of Victorian-era infrastructure and are committed to improving it, with £350 million in funding dedicated to the Access for All programme over control period 6 (2019-2024). Hedge End station was nominated but not selected due to its lower footfall compared to other stations. While I cannot guarantee further funding now, we will consider unsuccessful stations if additional funds become available. The Government is also pressing the industry to comply with legal obligations and enforce accessibility standards, including training staff and requiring annual reports from train operators on disability awareness efforts.

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