‘Access all areas’ bridge at East Croydon station promises to be anything but

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents fear that a new rail bridge crossing East Croydon station won’t be able to cope with crowds resulting from the area’s growing population.

These concerns come following the revelation that the bridge will only have ticket barriers built at one side, leading to fears of an ‘unholy scrum’ for access on that side.

The Network Rail-managed footbridge over East Croydon station has faced much controversy and delay since the plans were first conceived 14 years ago. It is hoped that the bridge will allow communities living on the east and west sides of the busy station to access platforms without having to crowd the main entrance.

However, a recent revelation that ticket access barriers would not, in fact, be included on the bridge’s east side on Cherry Orchard Road has left some residents fearing the bridge will not, in fact, help the communities it set out to serve.

Under the plans, the pedestrians entering from the Cherry Orchard Road side would have to walk down the length of the footbridge to access the gates there before walking back on themselves to the platforms.

One young mother, Nadia Elkheir, said that the plans for the completed bridge were ‘laughable and impractical’ without the barriers on that side. Nadia moved to Addiscombe with her partner to start a family and use East Croydon station nearby.

Being frequent users of the station, Nadia and her partner hoped the new bridge would allow them to save time and effort by accessing Cherry Orchard Road.

She said: “It’s just this thing that we’ve been waiting for, and then for it to end up being such an impractical and laughable plan that won’t save people any time is just ridiculous.

“The main entrance is already pretty difficult for elderly and disabled people. They will now have to go down and up again on the bridge to get onto the platforms.”

While Network Rail insists that it never promised ticket barriers at both entrances, many are now also questioning the point of the entrance at Cherry Orchard Road, considering the large population increase the area is expected to face in the coming years.

The area has already seen a boom in development, focused primarily around Menta’s new Morello buildings, which sandwich the currently unopened Cherry Orchard Road entrance to the bridge.

Fellow East Croydon resident and former deputy leader of Croydon council Jerry Fitzpatrick said the absence of ticket gates would ‘lead to a bit of an unholy scrum on the Western Side,’ and that Network Rail’s apparent lack of transparency regarding the plans for the bridge had not helped.

During the meeting, Network Rail’s representatives admitted their communication had been poor and acknowledged the need to ‘do better.’

Work on the bridge has been ongoing for over a decade, causing much disruption in the process. Much of the development has been centred around Menta’s newly opened tower blocks, housing over 300 flats.

As part of its £350 million regeneration scheme, Menta was responsible for creating the public realm space leading up to the Cherry Orchard Road entrance. However, they have also been criticised for causing delays to the bridge’s construction.

Network Rail submitted a planning application to Croydon council last month, apparently outlining the details of their final stage of construction before the bridge is expected to be complete next year. According to councillors, these plans revealed how Network Rail had abandoned the idea of dual access on the bridge.

A spokesman for Croydon council said: “Whilst the provision of a new ticket barrier at the eastern side is a Network Rail responsibility, the council is very supportive of the provision of a new ticket barrier and continues to discuss with Network Rail how this may be brought forward.

“We share residents’ frustrations and are working hard on their behalf to make sure they will be able to use the bridge to access the platforms.”

Pictured top: The Cherry Orchard road entrance to the bridge is sandwiched between the two new Menta built properties Picture: Croydon council