Lib Dems claming credit for Hillside access say Tories
SOUTHPORT Conservatives who campaigned for rail improvements have accused local Lib Dem councillors of attempting to take responsibility for a disabled access project at Hillside Train Station.
Last year, funding was received from the sixth round of the Access for All scheme, which was set up by the Department of Transport.
The lobbying was undertaken by Southport Conservative MP, Damien Moore, and local Conservative campaigners, including Dukes Ward Conservative councillor, Sir Ron Watson.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in April 2019, then Prime Minister, Theresa May, congratulated Damien Moore and the other activists for securing funding for the scheme.
Damien Moore said: “We have worked hard to make these changes happen at Hillside Railway Station.
“We were determined to secure this vital allocation of funds in order for Hillside to become accessible for disabled and elderly people, before making the case for all stations across the United Kingdom.”
He says that Birkdale Liberal Democrat councillors are taking credit for the initiative with a story in their latest ‘Birkdale Focus’ leaflet.
They say they told Merseytravel about residents’ concerns in the ‘long-running campaign to make Hillside Station fully accessible.’
Damien Moore said: “At times, Hillside is an extremely busy station. It is the nearest facility to both Greenbank High School and Birkdale High School.
“It is the nearest train station to a number of golf courses, including Royal Birkdale, which hosts the Open Golf championships that attracts visitors from all over the world to Southport, Merseyside, and brings millions of pounds into our local economy.”
Mr Moore, who won his first seat in 2017, maintains that former Southport MP, John Pugh, had many opportunities to lobby for changes at Hillside, but failed to do so.
Mr Moore said: “Now his colleagues are trying to claim credit for the work which we have achieved.”
Dukes Ward Conservative councillor, Sir Ron Watson, says it was he who identified the difficulties that Hillside Station represents to people with disabilities.
Sir Ron Watson said: “I raised this with the appropriate rail authorities, but at the time they advised that whilst additional funding had been made available for some stations, Hillside was not included.
“I thought the matter to be of such importance that I contacted Damien Moore, who pulled out all the stops to have this raised with Ministers and I was delighted that they in turn were persuaded to increase the allocations and that finance would now be made available for Hillside.”
Sir Ron Watson says this is an example of how cooperation between local councillors and MPs can generate positive results.
He also suggests that this displays how other political parties can get involved for their own self-interests and promotion.
Sir Ron Watson said: “This does them no credit and it is little wonder that the public view the behaviour with such scepticism.
“At the end of the day, what matters is that those categories of people who I am worried about, and want to help, are going to receive the assistance they need.”