For too many years, East Putney station has been missed off lists for new funding to make stations accessible. I know how much a lift is needed, so I started the campaign earlier this year to make the case for our station.

I am glad to say that we have had our first campaign win and that East Putney is on the list of stations that Transport for London (TfL) have announced for future feasibility studies.

Over 3,000 people signed the petition for a lift at East Putney Station. Councillor Finna Ayres and I handed the petition in to London Assembly Members, the Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and London Assembly Member Leonie Cooper. I also presented the petition in Parliament, calling on the Government to provide step-free access for our station. As well as this, I wrote to the Department for Transport, calling on them to fund step free access at tube stations.

The announcement this week has a first tier of stations which are further ahead in the process, and a second tier which East Putney is in which will continue if additional finance can be agreed. I will keep campaigning for East Putney to be in the first-tier group of stations.

Because the Government won’t step up and collaborate with TfL to provide accessibility funding for our tube stations, I am working with TfL to engage Wandsworth Council, developers and businesses to explore what options are available to introduce step-free access to stations. Feasibility work at East Putney Station could be progressed should the right amount of investment be provided by organisations that will partner with TfL.

Thank you again for joining the campaign: our signatures have got East Putney on the first long list. I will keep having meetings and campaigning for us to get step-free access. It’s not going to be a quick campaign given the pressures on finances.

Read the TfL announcement here.

View images of the petition hand-in to London Assembly Members, the Mayor of London, the Deputy Mayor for Transport and Parliament here.

Keep up to date with all my work by signing up to my newsletter here.