The petition of the residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that Bescot Stadium Station is used by travellers with disabilities and travellers with prams; notes that the Bescot Stadium Station served over 90,000 passengers between 2021 and 2022; further declares that passengers can only access the platforms via stairs to a footbridge without any accessible route from the platforms to the station car park other than the stairs; declares that Perry Barr and Witton Station, on the same line, have been upgraded for the Commonwealth Games making them accessible.
The petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to urge the Government to recognise the need for lifts at Bescot Stadium Station to make it accessible and to work with the appropriate body such as Network Rail.—[Presented by Valerie Vaz, Official Report, 24 October 2023; Vol. 738, c. 803.]
[P002863]
Observations from the Minister of State, Department for Transport (Huw Merriman):
The Government are actively improving accessibility at stations through the Access for All programme. By the end of 2024, the programme is forecast to have delivered step-free accessible routes at over 300 stations across Britain. We recently closed the nomination period for the next round of stations to receive Access for All funding from April 2024, and I expect to announce successful projects next year.
On this occasion local authorities and West Midlands Railway did not submit a nomination for Bescot Stadium station. I would encourage residents to engage with the local authority and West Midlands Railway to ensure the station is nominated for any future rounds of Access for All.
Over £60 million has been invested in the west midlands to enhance the legacy of the brilliant Commonwealth games hosted last year. The fund aims to increase access to sport and culture, boost the west midlands’ reputation as a world-class host for major events and drive inwards investment and tourism. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working with West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council to capitalise on the success of the games and help more people engage with sport and culture in the region. More information on the details of this funding will be available in due course.
Beyond existing centrally funded schemes, the Government believe that local authorities are best placed to decide on, and take forward, local transport schemes in their areas. I would therefore recommend engaging with both the local authority and the rail industry to share the proposals with them, and to learn if there are other plans to improve accessibility at Bescot Stadium station.
I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) for meeting with me in July to discuss this matter. As promised, I have contacted Ian McConnell, managing director of West Midlands Trains, and asked him to contact her office to discuss the matters raised with me.
In the meantime, the Department will continue to seek further opportunities to improve rail accessibility.