OUTCRY Station layout hits the buffers with locals
No disabled access at Hartwood
A row has broken out over “improvements”made by Network Rail to Hartwood Station.
As part of the improvement works for the Shotts Line Upgrade, Network Rail have upgraded the platforms at the station but have faced criticism for locals including members of Hartwood Community Council.
The group’s chairman Stuart Mckay said: “There’s been a lack of communication from Network Rail.
“We have emailed them but they haven’t responded.
“The new layout means people are going to be walking between 800 and 1000 yards to the car park.”
Local MSP Alex Neil has also contacted Network Rail about the problem.
In a letter to the company, Mr Neil said: “I paid a visit to Hartwood and to be honest the way in which NR is handling the development of the station is totally unsatisfactory.
“As an organisation you are riding roughshod over the people who live there. The new platform shelters are in completely the wrong location and, in at least one case, obtrusive for residents.
“The platform stairs are in a ridiculous location and are about as far way from the car park as you can get. There is no provision for disabled people.
“Your contractors are leaving their rubbish anywhere and everywhere. Local people who have raised these issues are being treated with contempt
“I am therefore writing to ask you to urgently meet with local people and myself to discuss these concerns and for you to outline what NR will now do to address these issues.”
Independent Fortissat councillor Tommy Cochrane added: “We now have a second of two rail stations in my wardwith no suitable disabled access.
“This is not going to go away, my community deserve to be treated better than this, out of all the station upgrades only 4 stations were left without a lift access, Shotts and Hartwood being two of them.”
Network Rail have said the old station footbridge at Hartwood had been donated to the community council who intend to use it in a community garden which will be part of future development plans in the village.
The company added: “We have removed the old station foot-bridge with access between platforms now enabled by new stairs at the west end of platform one.”