21.10.19
Billingham Railway station to receive £2m for disabled access
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, has announced a £1m investment to help add disabled access to Billingham Railway Station.
The station, built in the 1960’s, is currently the only railway station in the Tees Valley with no disabled access.
The funding makes up part of a bid into the Government’s Access for All scheme, which would supplement the £1m committed by the Mayor.
An additional £200,000 has been earmarked by Stockton Council and an £800,000 bid from the Department for Transport would cover the total £2m cost of introducing full disabled access to the station.
The station sits on the Durham Coast Line and has seen a 14% increase in use over the past five years, but disabled passengers are still unable to access certain parts, forcing people to use nearby stations with step-free access instead of their local one.
Mayor Houchen said:
“Everyone deserves access to transport so we have to create disabled access at Billingham Station. My plan to create more and better jobs across the Tees Valley can only be fully effective when everyone, regardless of any mobility issues they might have, has access to them.”
“For years a succession of politicians and officials have promised better station facilities for the people of Billingham, including making sure it has appropriate disability access, but failed to deliver. That’s why I have taken the decision to step in.”
“There is a temptation for people to focus on bigger towns and eye-catching projects, but it’s often the little things than can make a difference to people’s lives. I have put Billingham at the centre of my plans for jobs and economic growth in the Tees Valley.”