Council must put pressure on to get station steps sorted
THIS concerns the access steps to the southbound platform at Heaton Chapel Station, which have been awaiting repairs for about 12 months, yet nothing appears to have been done to repair them, so far.
The resulting inconvenience to passengers, old and disabled, continues to cause considerable problems.
Passengers are required to walk an additional 90 yards to access the platform, if one is required to purchase a ticket, one has to go to a further 80 yards to a ticket office, which is not open always at unsociable times and consequently customers have then to go to the only ticket machine situated on the northbound platform, which is a further 50 yards, and which will only accepts cards and not legal cash.
This is totally unacceptable in this day and age. If one is pressed for time to catch a southbound train, this can cause a problem in order to get to the platform in time, anything from ten to fifteen minutes, if you are old or disabled.
My main complaint, however, should really be against our local authority; Stockport Council, which has appeared to fail in its obligation to enforce its right to recognise an act of negligence and an act of derogation of duty of care to the local community and its residents, in respect of Northern Rail.
Stockport Council is obliged to provide and represent its residents and public amenities within its area of jurisdiction. Northern Rail are failing to act within health and safety rules with respect to the disabled and provide a adequate service accordingly.
However taxi drivers and public transport service vehicles have been prosecuted according for similar transgressions, so why have Northern Rail escaped from similar prosecution with respect their diligence in this matter?
If this was a local business causing a similar inconvenience, the council would have taken on to them like a ‘ton of bricks.’
One law for us and one law for those who assume authority over us. RM Greaves Heaton Moor