Calling Out the Mayor About Parsons Green and Putney Bridge Tube Stations

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Greg Hands MP for Chelsea and Fulham reporting back

Greg Hands MP visits Putney Bridge Tube Station

August 21, 2023

Dear Resident,

I hope you are having a great Summer!

As you may know, one of my ongoing campaigns is to improve pedestrian accessibility at Parsons Green and Putney Bridge Tube Stations.

On 11 July 2023, Transport for London (TfL) announced the next Tube stations to be prioritised for step-free access. Unfortunately, neither Putney Bridge nor Parsons Green Tube stations are included. Knowing how disappointing this will be for Chelsea and Fulham residents, I have written to the Mayor of London due to the exclusion of both Tube stations. I and my team will keep trying!

Step-free access to the District Line at Parsons Green and Putney Bridge Tube Stations, or the lack thereof, has been a concern for many constituents, especially the elderly, those with restricted mobility, families with young children and those with heavy luggage.

I have been raising this directly with TfL for some time. I organised and submitted two petitions to TfL, calling for improvements to passenger accessibility at Parsons Green and Putney Bridge Tube Stations. I highlighted the need for a lift at both stations. Currently, people are faced with flights of stairs to access the platforms, causing difficulty for many passengers. As these stations are above ground level, I believe that installing a lift would be significantly less costly, compared to the excavation works which would be required with underground stations.

Combined, the petitions received almost 1,000 signatures. In response, the Managing Director of London Underground assured me that the calls for step-free access at both stations had been recognised and that they would be considered in future projects.

I also wrote to residents about the need for better pedestrian accessibility at both Tube stations and encouraged residents to take part in TfL’s Step-Free Access Consultation, and to share their personal views to shape TfL’s future approach for our local stations. Alongside many residents, I made a submission as the Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham.

The consultation report was published on 16 November 2022, and TfL revealed that 5,583 responses were received. My submission was highlighted, as was the campaign to have step-free access at Putney Bridge and Parsons Green Tube Stations. However, there was no direct action from TfL for these two Tube stations.

Since the announcement on 11 July, I have also visited Putney Bridge Tube station, with Jill who is a concerned 93 year-old resident, to discuss the desperate need for a lift. Unfortunately, some residents are unable to use the stairs and must use the bus instead.

While I was at the station, I also discussed the issue with other tube users including a man using crutches and a woman with a pram. The only option for them is lengthy flights of stairs which can be very difficult.

Improving pedestrian accessibility, by installing lifts, at Putney Bridge and Parsons Green Tube Stations will benefit our whole community. No one should be forced to take another mode of transport; they should be able to comfortably access tube services. Fundamentally, everyone should be able to use our local transport services.

Step-free access at Putney Bridge and Parsons Green Tube Stations remains a key priority of mine and I await the Mayor of London’s response on why both Tube stations have been excluded.

Best wishes,

Greg Hands

The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP

Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham

You can follow Greg on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for @GregHands

P.S. I will continue to keep the pressure on Mayor Khan and TfL for our Tube Stations!

 

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