Mount Hermon ward councillors call on Southwestern Railway to show community spirit

Liberal Democrat councillors representing the Mount Hermon ward have written to Southwestern Railway asking them to show community spirit and allow pedestrians through the station during underpass works.

Cllr Ian Johnson says

On behalf of our residents, ward councillors for Mount Hermon call on South Western Railway to open the pedestrian bridge in the station while the underpass is closed for refurbishment.

The refurbishment of the underpass at Woking station is to be welcomed. However, what is unacceptable is the complete disregard for the impact on the ordinary public who regularly use the underpass to go about their everyday lives during the 8 weeks of closure.

Some pedestrians now have to walk a quarter of a mile under the Victoria arch to get to town, or the other way to get from the town to places such as the community hospital and doctors' surgeries. This is impacting on those with seen and unseen disabilities as well as those who are less able to manage the increased distance.

South Western Railway (SWR) appear to have little interest in minimising the impact of the closure on local residents. It shouldn't be difficult to allow pedestrians to either use the lift or the overpass within the station for these few weeks, and keep life as normal as possible for so many people as we emerge from the pandemic.

Instead, South Western Railway (SWR) are being obstructive and unreasonable and local staff are upholding policies which focus on minimal 'fare dodging' instead of pragmatically adapting the policies for a short period to best serve the local community. With so many stations across the network now being barrier free, it is disappointing that South Western Railway (SWR) are adopting an obstructive approach.

We have been reminded many times about the unprecedented circumstances in the last two years. The closure of the underpass is locally unprecedented, and a time limited inconvenience, so SWR should adapt their practices in everyone's interest for this short period, and let residents through. We have a strong community spirit in Woking and ask SWR to show that same spirit of cooperation and collaboration that has seen the community through the pandemic

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