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Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Phil McNamara (24th Jan 2009 - 15:15:48) Quick question to anyone who may know - how would a special needs passenger (e.g. wheelchair bound) get from the Ticket Office across to the Southbound (Portsmouth) platform of Liphook RS? Whilst having their dignity maintained?

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Dawn Hoskins (24th Jan 2009 - 18:57:00) They don't.

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Barry Hope (24th Jan 2009 - 19:55:59) Just a little bit more on this... During the meeting of the Highways, Byeways and Transport committee on the 12th Jan 2009 the Chairman (Dr John Tough) stated that "the Liphook Station Disability Access Feasability Study Report was now "in the right hands" for progression ? As I said previously, I will find out what that means to wheelchair users in Liphook. Barry

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Phil McNamara (25th Jan 2009 - 11:53:26) Hmm. Just checked the South West Trains website, for information on Liphook RS and DDA related access. Quite aside from the fact that SWT nominate Liphook RS as a suitable point for 'walking' tours of Hampshire - preumably just for the able-bodied, they provide the following info re. Liphook RS accessability: Station accessibility question answer Customer Help points Yes Hearing loop Yes Accessible ticket machines Yes Accessible booking office counter No Ramp for train access No Accessible taxis Yes Accessible public telephones No National key toilet No Step free access coverage No part of station Step free access note The platforms are too narrow for ramps. Passengers are advised to use Liss or Haslemere. Impaired mobility set-down No Number of disabled parking spaces 0 Accessible car park equipment No Wheelchairs available No Staff help available Not available Additional travel information question answer Car park No Number of car parking spaces 85 Parking charges Peak: £4.50, Off-peak: After 1030 Mon-Fri £2.00, Daily: £4.50, Weekly: £17.50, Monthly: £66.00, Three-monthly: £198.00, Annual: £700.00 Taxi rank No TrainTaxi website link TrainTaxi website Cycle storage 28 spaces, partly sheltered, with CCTV Cycle storage location Not available Cycle storage note Not available From my reading of the above, special-needs passengers in Liphook have to get to either Liss or Haslemere, to travel south from Liphook. Exactly how does that fit with national drives on accessing public transport instead of using more personal and higher-polluting forms of transport such as cars? I guess SWT are clearly saying if you are in a wheelchair, take yourself to Liss or Haslemere, but not Liphook. Or buy a car. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves of how much the train fares rose in the New Year, or as SWT put it 'to develop the stations and services' ...

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - barbara (25th Jan 2009 - 14:21:08) My understanding is, I may be wrong, that because there is no disabled ramp at the station, and legally they should be providing some accessability, that SWT Pay the taxi fare for that disabled person to get to haslemere station. There has been a feasabilty study, paid for by The Parish council, and the estim,ated cost to put the ramp in was in excess of £200,000k. South West trains have not indicated any enthusiasm to spend this amount although they are aware that the study has been prepared last year or the year before. I presume the cost has now gone up. In this economic climate over £200,000k is a lot of money and SWT have announced staff cutbacks, so it does not look likely they will order a ramp. Were the station being newly built, a ramp would have to have been incorporated in their design plans but because it is not a new build there is no legal requirement for them to build a new one. I do not know if the person who is in a wheelchair has enquired about the taxi which should be provided? It would be interesting to know whether it is a lot of people on a daily basis using the station who have a problem like this?r

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Finchie (26th Jan 2009 - 10:35:06) I believe Barbera is right. From my conversations with SWT in the "olden days" when I had a bee in my bonnet !! The message from SWT was phone ahead and they will arrange and pay for a taxi to/from Liphook to Haslemere. Currently it probably makes sense that they keep things as they are: 200k would be about but 13,000 taxi trips. I would expect they probably wouldn't have that amount of trips in 50 years ! But I am sure SWT would listen to a business case that differs from these thoughts ... Cheers, Finchie

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Barry Hope (29th Jan 2009 - 09:30:58) At the PC meeting on Monday 26th I asked where we were with this. The Liphook Station Disability Access Feasibility Study Report is now in the hands of EHDC for them to consider the next move. There is some finance available for this project (not certain how much). So I guess we wait for them to react to it at some point in the future. I will continue to follow this up and let you know when anything happens. Barry

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Melanie (29th Jan 2009 - 14:29:44) I have raised this with SWT not because I'm in a wheelchair but because I have a buggy for my baby. I avoid taking the baby on the trains because of the hassle of getting over the bloody bridge. I'm sure that a ramp from the road that crosses the railway lines would not cost £200k. SWT responded saying there are no plans to improve accessibility at the station but that 24 hours notice should be given should I require assistance and they would endeavour to assist....

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Rhys G (28th Feb 2009 - 17:49:53) “Disabled access at 523 stations in England and Wales will be improved following the award of £37million extra government funding. Transport secretary Geof Hoon announced the funding from the £370m Access for All initiative launched in 2006…The money will pay for ramps, lifts and disabled access toilets and parking spaces as well as better customer information and public announcement systems.” – Planning magazine 13/02/2009. Unfortunately, Liphook doesn’t appear on the list! See also here.

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Phil McNamara (3rd Mar 2009 - 20:28:23) On Saturday last, I carried a 6 year old, a 3 year old, and stuffed a buggy under my arm and carried the lot from Platform 2 across the bridge. Now I'm not unfit, but I have to say I was muttering by the end of that little lot ... ! And being fit and able-bodied, I doubt I'd be calling on SWT to order me a cab from Haslemere - that would be unfair. I wouldn't wish to trouble anyone. So I guess I was in SWT limbo ... my arms did ache, but what the heck!

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Sarah (9th Mar 2009 - 19:17:59) You might be interested in a piece on BBC South Today shown after the 6 O'clock news tonight (Monday 9th March) where their transport correspondent travelled from Liphook Station to Brockenhurst via Haslemere and highlighted the problems of access to stations via wheelchair. You may be able to view it on I-Player?

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Rhys G (9th Mar 2009 - 20:26:48) Very interesting indeed. Video here. Glad it is raising the profile.

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Sumi Olson (10th Mar 2009 - 11:14:23) I too now avoid using Liphook Station - even though it would be nearer and easier to get to than Haslemere because I''ve a child in a buggy and I cannot get use the bridge. I'm expecting our second child in May and would love to be able to use the train for excursions in the summer but unless I go to Haslemere, I won't be going by train. And since there's no direct bus route between Liphook & Haslemere, I'd using my car to get to Haslemere and paying parking fees if I can find a space... Transport planners & SWT should pay heed to accessibility issues for the elderly, non-able bodied, and families with young children all of whom could contribute to their annual revenue with better planning, support and workable initiatives. It's not acceptable to hear political jargon, spin doctoring, and hot air when common sense and appropriate action could take people off the roads and onto the public transport - and earn the transport infrastructure some money!

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Dawn Hoskins (11th Mar 2009 - 09:38:19) Very exciting to see Liphook on the tele!! We are getting quite famous now

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Barry Hope (11th Mar 2009 - 20:08:25) Sometimes for the right reasons !!!

Re: Access to Southbound Platform at Liphook Rail Station - Dawn Hoskins (30th Mar 2009 - 14:02:54) Phil, you should have asked your good friend Paul Rochford to help – he is also good at muttering a lot!

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