MP's call for station platform lifts turned down

Marks Tey station in Essex has been labelled the least accessible station on the Greater Anglia network

An MP's call to make a train station accessible has been turned down by a government minister.

James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk, wrote to the government in October asking for lift access to be installed between all platforms at Marks Tey train station, near Colchester in Essex.

He said the lack of step-free access between the Sudbury branch line and the main line was causing difficulties for many of his constituents with disabilities or those travelling with heavy luggage.

Addressing the letter, Lord Peter Hendy, the rail minister, said there were "no current plans" for such a scheme at Marks Tey and suggested getting financial contributions from developers.

"Ensuring the accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focussed approach," Lord Hendy said.

"However, I am sorry to advise that there are no current plans for an accessibility scheme at Marks Tey."

He suggested securing financial contributions from developers to ease pressures around accessibility, as well as engaging with key stakeholders to ensure Marks Tey was a priority in any future rounds of government funding.

James Cartlidge called for access lifts on all platforms at Marks Tey railway station

Mr Cartlidge's letter came against the background of the government bringing Greater Anglia into public ownership, under the control of the Department for Transport.

The MP said he was disappointed, but promised to continue calling for a lift to be installed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"Ultimately, my constituents travelling from Sudbury use the interchange to access the main line, so the issue of accessibility must be addressed," he said.

It is not the first time Mr Cartlidge has raised this issue, having campaigned for improved accessibility at the station for several years alongside Dame Priti Patel, MP for Witham.