MONEY has been found to improve access to Ludlow railway station for people with disabilities.

Philip Dunne MP has welcomed an announcement of government funding to improve disability access at Ludlow Railway Station, following his successful campaign.

Mr Dunne coordinated the campaign to help Ludlow receive funding through the Access for All scheme, which helps install accessible, step free routes at railway stations, in addition to access improvements the rail sector is required to deliver.

Also involved in the initiative is the Ludlow Disability Access Group.

More than 300,000 people started or finished their journey at Ludlow Station in 2017/18, almost 40,000 more journeys than Leominster, which has lift access between platforms.

The Government made up to £300m available to extend Access for All across the next five years from 2019 to 2024.Mr Dunne was spurred to action following concerns raised by local residents and visitors to Ludlow suffering from poor access to and from the ticket hall on the northbound platform to the southbound platform at the station.

Figures from the Office of Rail and Road had shown Ludlow is the busiest station between Hereford and Shrewsbury but suffered from poor disability access and no lift.

“I met Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani on several occasions to press home Ludlow’s case for inclusion in this scheme, as I had been contacted by both local residents and visitors to our town concerned about poor access between platforms for those with mobility issues,” said Mr Dunne.

He added that he had been supported by the Shropshire Access Group, Ludlow Rail Users, Marches Rail Users Alliance, Ludlow’s Mayor, and Shropshire Council and councillors.

Photo: Ludlow MP Philip Dunne welcoming funding announcement today by Rail Minister Nusrat Ghani MP to improve access to Ludlow station