A NEW railway crossing for disabled people at Evesham station is on track for spring next year.

The £95,000 project which includes a pathway, ramp and rest areas is due to be completed before Friday, March 31 according to Worcestershire County Council's Travelwise officer, Nicky Luff.

She said: "We are currently liaising with First Great Western and Railtrack to finalise the details.

"The cost will be borne by the county council's Local Transport Plan, with contributions from First Great Western and Wychavon District Council."

There was uproar about three years ago when Thames Trains decided to close the old ramp for safety reasons.

Disabled people campaigned to get it refurbished, but the ramp was finally removed in February 2003. This left people in wheelchairs wanting to go to London stranded because the only other method to access the train was to climb steps across an iron bridge.

Danny Walker, who is a member of the charity DIAS (Disability Awareness in Society) said: "We hope very much that the ramp will be in place by spring next year.

"We were previously promised a Christmas completion date but will be happy when it finally happens.

"At present if we want to travel to Worcester we get on the train at Evesham and have to get a taxi back. It's is a real inconvenience."

Mr Walker who lives in Evesham manages the charity for disabled people with his friend, Steve Arnold.

He added: "There are still quite a few areas in the town which are inaccessible to disabled people and we are still campaigning to put this right according to the rules laid down by the new Discrimination Act which came into force last year."

He urged disabled people in the Vale with an access problem to contact Steve Arnold on 01386 47027.