A Hanwell mum with a 19-month son has launched a petition to get improvements made to the bridge at Castle Bar Park station so that it becomes more accessible and easier to use by the many thousands of people using it each week.
Stephanie Toal says the bridge is in a poor state and through the petition wants to see her local MP, James Murray as well as local councillors and Ealing Council cabinet members take action so that all users have better access.
In her petition, Stephanie writes: “The existing footbridge is in a state of disrepair and inaccessible for a large number of local people. The footbridge is important to 1000s of local people because it is a vital link for surrounding neighbourhoods to take their children to seven schools, four nurseries, get to work, access Castle Bar Park (CBP) station, access shops, get to Hanwell Community Centre, get to Hathaway childrens centre, get to leisure and sporting facilities.”
Stephanie adds: “I would like the footbridge to be made safe and more accessible to local people. I have started this petition in order to get this done.”
Even though Stephanie gets assistance from passers by, there is still much more work to be done to improve the bridge for everyone.
“I do see other people struggling across the bridge with other items, shopping bags (or wheelie shopping baskets), bicycles, scooters etc,” she says in her petition. “The footbridge and one platform are not accessible to wheelchair users (apart from the platform serving trains from Castle Bar Park to West Ealing). That excludes anyone wishing to travel to West Ealing to connect to the Elizabeth Line and any destination beyond.”
To find out more about the petition, click here.
