Shropshire Star

Rail users fume over Chirk bridge opening delay

Network Rail has been urged to "get a move on" and open a railway station footbridge nine months after it was built.

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The bridge at Chirk – which was completed at the start of the year as part of a £2 million Welsh Assembly-funded project to improve access – is still closed to the public despite calls by the Friends of Chirk Station and rail users to open it.

Graham Greasley, who runs Gateway Heritage Tours, said he recently had to help an elderly lady and her grandson haul three huge cases up the station steps to the car park because there was no alternative.

Mr Greasley said: "They had come up from South Wales and were travelling around the UK for several weeks. She commented that it was very poor, and I had to agree.

"Here we are in the peak holiday season, with lots of visitors arriving and the bridge and ramp is still not open. And what about disabled access to the Chester platform?

"It's absolutely disgusting it's still closed – Network Rail should get it sorted."

Ken Skates, AM for Clwyd South, said he wrote to Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne back in June to ask what was going on, and was told the delay was because CCTV cameras needed to be in place.

Mr Skates said: "The company said it was 'working hard with Arriva Trains Wales to achieve this more quickly', but no timescale has been given. It's hardly surprising that people are getting fed up with waiting – this is taking far too long.

"The Welsh Government has invested £2 million in Chirk Station and local residents and commuters still aren't able to utilise the improvements we've paid for."

The money provided a ramped footbridge, providing access for disabled people to platform one, trains travelling northbound, for the first time. The work also includes creating an accessible drop-off point, disabled car park spaces and improved signage.

Mr Skates said: "After I wrote to Network Rail over problems with the station's car park – which was only half-open – it was quickly resolved. I would urge the company to get a move on and show the same efficiency with this matter. This is an excellent project – it's a shame we can't see the results."

Hannah McCarthy, spokeswoman for Network Rail, said: "We are having technical issues with the CCTV on the new footbridge which means we have had to delay opening it to the public.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to thank passengers for bearing with us as we work to resolve this issue as quickly as we can. We can completely understand the frustration of 'there's the bridge, why can't we use it?'."

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