Step-free access plans submitted for rail station

Plans have been submitted for a new footbridge and lifts to provide step-free access at Wellington railway station.

Network Rail has applied to Telford & Wrekin Council for prior approval for the development, which a parish councillor described as a "long overdue upgrade" for the station.

There is currently no step-free route between platform one, serving trains towards Telford, and platform two for services to Shrewsbury.

Network Rail said installing lifts on the existing stepped Victorian footbridge was "not feasible".

Writing on the council's planning portal, Stuart Parr, a Conservative from Hadley and Leegomery parish council, said he welcomed the improvements but urged Network Rail to ensure the design was in keeping with the station's Victorian character.

"The council is not able to dictate conditions to Network Rail because of legislation permitting the development but I would ask Network Rail to ensure that materials used are sympathetic to the Victorian design of the station and that we are not left with a metal/glass bridge that looks entirely out of place," he said.

Network Rail said approval should only be refused if the authority considered "the development ought to be and could reasonably be carried out elsewhere on the land" or if its design would harm the amenity of the area and could be modified to avoid it.

The proposals come after a seven-year wait for accessibility improvements.

In 2019, Wellington station was named as one of 73 across the country to receive funding through the Department for Transport's Access for All programme.

A new accessible route, including a lift, was planned, but Network Rail said it would be autumn 2026 "at the earliest" before work began.

Campaigner Ian Roberts, who is part of the Telford Macular Society support group, previously described the delay as "totally ludicrous".

"With the number of disabilities I've got, the easiest thing to me would be to stay at home and not go out at all." he said. "I don't want to do that. I want to go out, keep some independence as do a lot of other people so this just makes it difficult to do things which other people do quite easily."

Network Rail said a contractor was appointed in January 2025 to work on designs and timescales.

"These are challenging financial times and we must spend every pound as efficiently as possible, so we have looked at all aspects of the scheme - including the bridge deck and lifts - so they are the best value for money," it said last year.

"This has meant a redesign of the scheme was needed but the long-term benefits will remain and outweigh the short-term delay."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.