Call over Whitchurch railway station's inaccessible platform

The problem has been going on for years, with only one of the platforms easily accessible.

Residents have previously been told funding was not available.

But, after Network Rail announced plans to remove the canopy from platform two because of its poor state, there have been complaints that it will only be replaced by a smaller one – and also renewed calls to improve platform accessibility.

Councillor Tony Neville, deputy mayor of Whitchurch Town Council, said the railway was vital to the town and with many houses soon to be built there, more and more families would want to use it. He said he would like to see a disabled access installed to allow wheelchair users and people pushing prams to cross the track between the platforms

"There is no way someone in a wheelchair can access the Shrewsbury side. They can't take wheelchairs over the bridge and they just can't get across the lines," he said.

" They can go to Crewe but not Shrewsbury. It's been going on for years and we are asked regularly about it.

"But we are told it's not viable, partly because of the amount of users they say we get.

"In our opinion it is used heavily and the car park is full every morning. The railway station is very well used and Network Rail needs to invest in it."

Michael Gallacher, a member of Whitchurch town plan implementation committee, said: "The fact is that the splendid new footbridge at the station was designed to facilitate the addition of lifts, one for each platform.

"It is this that I keep on plugging at every opportunity, and shall do so at a meeting at the station which Network Rail's Jordon Pepperall is organising regarding the canopy."

Network Rail spokesperson Hannah McCarthy said: "

The DfT has a dedicated fund, known as 'Access for All' which is used to make improvements at stations. The decision about which schemes receive funding is made by the DfT with the support of Network Rail and train operation companies.

"This process considers a number of factors including current access arrangements, passenger numbers and feedback from local stakeholders. The present fund for the period 2014 to 2019 is fully allocated, but new funding for additional schemes may be made available from the Government."