Mobility scooter user backs call for Olympia station lifts
By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter
A woman who lives by a major £1.3 billion redevelopment has said the installation of lifts at a nearby Tube station would be ‘transformative’ for people with mobility issues.
Jane Bird, 67, who uses a mobility scooter, has previously warned the lack of lifts at Kensington (Olympia) station would render the Olympia project inaccessible to some.
The journey for those unable to use the stairs and crossing takes around 10 minutes to get from one platform to the other. A petition Ms Bird launched alongside a neighbour calling on Transport for London (TfL), Network Rail and developer Yoo Capital to include new lifts in the wider Olympia plans has drawn more than 1,300 signatures.
The redevelopment, which is due to begin opening later this year, will include facilities such as a 4,000-person music arena, bars, restaurants and office space, and is expected to be a huge draw.
The three parties mentioned in Ms Bird’s petition have all said they will continue to explore ways to improve accessibility at the station. However, TfL said any structural changes are the responsibility of Network Rail, which is the owner.
Kensington (Olympia) is already step-free, via either Olympia Way or Russell Road, and so is ineligible for Department for Transport (DfT) Access for All funding.
However, the route from one side of the station to the other, which would be necessary on either the journey to the Olympia or when departing, depending which direction visitors come from, is 600 metres long – a journey of more than 10 minutes on a mobility scooter.
Ms Bird, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), said when she used to use sticks she would avoid travelling home via the station and instead relied on taxis. “It was extremely tiring and it was impossible really,” she said. “I couldn’t really use the station after a short while, it was too far to walk.”
Ms Bird said it is not just those with mobility issues who struggle but people with buggies, suitcases, or anything else which would make it difficult to climb the stairs and cross using the bridge. The lack of lifts to the bridge is a ‘huge barrier’, Ms Bird said.
She added: “For most people with mobility problems it’s a non-starter. They just would give up before they began. In any case it’s a tiring thing to go to an exhibition or a big event, and the last thing you want to do is arrive exhausted or face a long walk at the end of your day, and you’re going to have that problem one way or another wherever you’ve come from.”
A spokesman for Yoo Capital said: “With new Olympia venues due to start opening their doors later this year, we fully support the calls for lifts at the station. It’s important to us that our venues and events are as accessible as possible for all to enjoy.
“As part of the development, we contributed £4.5m to TfL to use on upgrades to the local transport network, however as the station sits outside of the Olympia estate, the decision to install lifts is outside of our control.”
TfL said: “While Kensington (Olympia) station has step-free access from street to platform, we recognise that the Russell Road side of the station could be more accessible to customers and we would support the introduction of lifts.
“While our operator, Arriva Rail London (ARL) manages the station, any structural changes which includes the installation of the lifts are the responsibility of Network Rail as the station owner. We will continue to support Network Rail in every way we can to help secure funding to further enhance accessibility.”
A spokesman for Network Rail has said: “We will continue to work with the developer, the local authority and rail partners (ARL and TfL) on improving accessibility and delivering further improvements.”
Pictured top: Jane Bird, a resident by the Olympia (Picture: LDRS)