A MEMBER of a national pensioners' organisation has slammed the delays which mean disabled people cannot access both platforms at Evesham railway station.

Richard Barrett of UNITE, the National Federation of Royal Mail & BT Pensioners, and local secretary of the Evesham branch of the organisation, has labelled the County Council's delaying of the scheme as an 'absolute disgrace'.

The organisation has campaigned on a national level for better access to railway stations and that included the proposed disabled ramp that was due to be installed at the station.

This scheme has been a very long running one, after disagreements over the costing of the project between Worcestershire County Council and Network Rail have rumbled on for years and there is still no sign of any imminent action being taken.

It is now to be part of the County Council's Local Transport Plan for 2006 to 2011, which means the station could still be without the ramp for another five years.

Mr Barrett said: "This is an absolute disgrace, I cannot understand how the County Council can just walk away from a previously given commitment and they should not be allowed to do so. Improved access to the station will not just benefit pensioners and disabled people, it will help a whole cross-section of the community who use the station including parents using push chairs and those who struggle with staircases.

"There are clear rules laid down in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act which should have been in place by now. The County Council has a duty to provide for the disabled and they are not doing that at the moment."

He also called on residents of the Vale who feel affected by the issue to make their feelings known, as an increased level of support could bring the scheme to fruition.

Worcestershire County Councillor John Smith: "I feel passionately about this issue and I will keep pressing to make sure that we get this facility for the people of Evesham and I hope it can be done sooner rather than later. I am working hard to get a more positive response from the powers that be."