Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Passengers demand new station access
Commuters and city councillors are calling on Network Rail to make land in Roper Road available for a second entrance to the Canterbury West train station.
The organisation, which controls Britain’s rail infrastructure, is under instructions from central government to release land for housing developments.
It insists that selling the land would not necessarily prevent a northern entrance being created, but warns that there are logistical problems which could complicate it.
The issue resurfaced at the council’s Canterbury Area Member Panel Meeting earlier this month when councillors of all parties agreed that the land should be retained to provide access to the city’s primary station from the northern side.
Solicitor Jeremy Baker, of Rough Common, commutes from the station and has been lobbying for an additional entrance to the one in Station Road West.
He said: “This would relieve the huge pressure on the existing sole station access in Station Road West, provide more direct access from the University of Kent and areas to the north and west, and reduce the queueing at the level crossing to or from the station.”
Barton ward Conservative councillor Steve Williams, who commutes from Canterbury to a job in the City of London, said: “It would be a devastating blow to the development of the station if we lose the access to Roper Road.
“As a commuter, I know how much the station is used and opening up the other side is not going to the solve the problem of overuse, but it is going to alleviate the congestion in Station Road West.”
Canterbury West, which takes travellers to Ashford International and St Pancras, has been the busier of the city’s two stations since the high-speed link to the capital opened a decade ago.
Cllr Mike Dixey, who represents Westgate ward for the Lib Dems, admits he is not hopeful.
He said: “Unfortunately, Net- work Rail is an old-fashioned nationalised industry. It’s totally impervious to public pressure and opinion.”
Wincheap Lib Dem Nick EdenGreen added: “Selling off this land in Roper Road seems particularly stupid especially as we are going to have a large number of houses built in the city soon and we are going to be encouraging people to use the train.
“We’ve got to twist Network Rail’s arm to provide proper access to the station.”
Network Rail is currently carrying out a public consultation on station enhancements in the county.
Email Kentroutestudy@networkrail.co.uk to submit a comment before the Friday, June 30 deadline.