Lib-Dem councillors push for step free access to Greenfield station

Liberal Democrat councillor Kevin Dawson is pictured at Greenfield station

Saddleworth’s Liberal Democrat Councillors are pushing again for step free access at Greenfield station, signing the Step Free Access campaign’s petition to support accessible stations across the entire rail network.

Local Liberal Democrat councillor Kevin Dawson said: “Greenfield Station is the only the only railway station in the whole of Oldham borough.

"It is a disgrace that it has remained inaccessible for all this time.”

Councillor Garth Harkness, who has previously pleaded for the reopening of Diggle station to provide Saddleworth with a second station, added: “With no other alternatives, it is an absolutely necessity that Greenfield station gets step free access.

"This has been in limbo for too long – we have asked for a station elsewhere, but been rebuffed; we have been promised step-free access when the line is electrified, but this has been delayed time and again."

The local Liberal Democrat councillors wrote to the Department of Transport in support of the reinstatement of half-hourly services to the station last month.

Local campaigner Jeff Garner added: “It is really important that that we get the regular services that Saddleworth needs to provide travel for commuters and residents.

"But if there remains no step-free access, we are not getting the service we need for everyone.

“Purely and simply, this is a matter of fairness.

"Until the Conservative Government provides both the money and the commitment to make railways accessible, we know that they don’t care about people in Saddleworth – whether that is people with disabilities, parents with prams; anyone who struggles to access the station as it is now.

"We believe in putting those people first.”

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