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Don't axe Tube station, upgrade say museums
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard24 Nov 2008
DIRECTORS of three leading museums have protested to Mayor Boris Johnson after plans to upgrade a Tube station were scaled back.
The Victoria and Albert, Natural History and Science museums have written to the Mayor after Transport for London scrapped a scheme to offer step-free access at South Kensington station.
The redevelopment of the station is part of a £30million plan to transform the museum district into a "shared" space for cars and pedestrians.
Initially TfL said it was "likely" a lift would be installed for wheelchair users and parents with prams but it has now said it would cost £50million and there is not enough money.
In their joint letter, the three museum directors - Mark Jones of the V&A, the Science Museum's Professor Chris Rapley, and Dr Michael Dixon at the Natural History Museum - said: "The present situation seems highly regrettable at a time when we need to show our best face to visitors in the run up to the Olympics." About 10 million people visit the museums every year, the vast majority using the Tube.
Today Mr Jones said: "It's an appalling shame that there will be no step-free access. It's inexplicable that this should not happen. We do as much as we can to make our museums accessible and we get people complaining about the Tube. This is a huge lost opportunity."
Merrick Cockell, Kensington and Chelsea council leader, said he thought step-free access was essential for the new-look station.
A TfL spokesman said 54 of all 270 Tube stations had step-free access and that this would rise to 68 stations by 2010 and 71 by 2012.
But he added: "The project to deliver step-free access at South Kensington was part of an unfunded commitment by the previous mayoral administration. London Underground has looked at a number of options including developer-led schemes which have been refused planning consent by the local borough."
The project to upgrade Exhibition Road and its surrounding area will see safety barriers, street signs and traffic lights removed so vehicles share space with pedestrians.
Reader views (10)
Where does TFL get its figures from? I doubt it would cost £50m to install a lift in one station. Is £50m a coded phrase for "couldn't be bothered!". Amazing how no expense is spared for that hideous vanity project, the Olympics.
- Cally G, Essex, UK, 25/11/2008 09:55
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£50 million. For a lift. Who's building this lift, magic elves?
- Emily, Chadwell Heath, 25/11/2008 00:32
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Well its a bit rich TORY Kensington & Chelsea complaining about this decision given that it is a project that just like the DLR extension to Dagenham Dock, Cross River Tram and Tramlink extension which Boris was being praised for dropping in this very paper a few weeks ago.
It would be interesting to know how many other projects NOGO BOJO has cancelled in his "Unfunded pledge". Any chance of a Standard Supplement?
Anyway Boris needs all the money he can get to fund Toy-Town buses and airport surveys in areas outside his jurisdiction.
As time goes by the disaster to London's future in electing Boris Johnson will unravel. As Mayor of London he is meant to get funding for projects and not cancel them.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 24/11/2008 19:36
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The notion that a lift could cost £50m is madness. But even worse are the disgraceful comments from Keith of Kings Cross. Either he must belong to that generation which believes in living hard and dying young, or he is so thoughtless and selfish that his opinions are worthless. Sadly, a small but vocal minority share those opinions, and must therefore share the labels of thoughtless, selfish and totally short-sighted.
- Ken Welsby, London, 24/11/2008 17:05
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Keith, Kings Cross. You are absolutely right. How can the World's oldest underground system possibly be totally accessable to the disabled and buggies? All buses in London are now able to carry such wheeled carriages, and TfL publish all sorts of maps and information for people with disabilities, whatever it may be, thus enabling a route to pre-planned with a little aforesight. My Mother is in a wheelchair and it takes her minutes to plan her journey, maybe within a roundabout way, but she gets there. It takes time but we can all make time! There is a limit to what can be accommodated and this is it. End of.
- Rod, Epping, UK, 24/11/2008 15:12
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Only in London could anyone imagine that installing a lift in a tube station could cost £50million...come on get outside the M25 and take a reality check
- Mango, Worcs., 24/11/2008 13:41
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Isn't it time that the disabled accepted that there are some things that they just can't do? Who knows how much is spent making buildings and public spaces accessible to a relatively small number of citizens? They get plenty of help from the state too, so it's time they piped down.
- Keith, Kings Cross, London, UK, 24/11/2008 13:22
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It is a great pity, but at £50,000,000 for a lift. Boris is making sense on this one.
- Stephen, London, 24/11/2008 12:48
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I suggest Boris Johnson ask the French government for funding. SK tube station is mainly used by the 3500 children of the French lycée and various French primary schools and by many staff of the French institute, consulate and embassy (over 500 persons in total). And I'm not talking about the many French people who leave in the area (27000 people registered) and the many French businesses that have branches in SK...
- Jacques Viollet, Cannes - France, 24/11/2008 12:33
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Whatever happened to making public facilities accessible to all members of the public, able bodied or not? I use SK station every day and it's unbelievable that it has no easy way for a lady with pushchair to get to the platforms without a member of public helping them lift their baby down the stairs. God knows what kind of rigmarole someone in a wheel chair has to go through.
This is truly pathetic of TfL and they should be ashamed of themselves.
- Declan, London, 24/11/2008 11:44
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