Call for disabled access at key Walsall railway station that serves football fans

Walsall South MP Valerie Vaz, along with members of Walsall Supporters Trust, met with Network Rail, West Midlands Railway and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) representatives to highlight the problem at Bescot Station.

Despite the station car park having disabled spaces, there are no lifts or even ramps with passengers having to use stairs to get to and from each of the two platforms.

The Trust’s secretary Ray Dale and disabled supporters officer Helen Thorpe-Wood said the problem was highlighted by wheelchair away supporters who use wheelchairs had to travel to Walsall town centre and get to the stadium via bus or taxi due to the lack of access at Bescot.

Mrs Vaz presented a petition, which had been signed by 474 people, in the House of Commons on October 24, which pointed out more than 90,000 passengers used the station between 2021 and 2022.

The station serves supporters going to the Poundland Bescot Stadium for Walsall FC and Aston Villa Women FC matches, as well as visitors to the Sunday market there.

There are also houses, a hotel and other businesses in close proximity to the station.

Joanna Sainsbury, who uses a wheelchair, said: “If you are in a wheelchair or electric scooter or you are on crutches and can’t climb very far you can’t use the station.

“I have friends who come to Walsall matches and I have to tell them they can’t come in their wheelchairs on the train.

“They have to get a train into Walsall and then a taxi into the stadium and bring a carer with them to do all that when they could independently do that on a train.

“We’re hoping to see a lift facility so more disabled supporters can come to Bescot Stadium.

“I don’t use public transport because I can’t so I come in a car. Luckily, I have a disabled parking space as I’m a season ticket holder but if you don’t have a season ticket you can’t do that.”

Mrs Vaz said: “I presented a petition in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, calling on the House to urge the Government to recognise the need for lifts at Bescot Stadium Station to make it accessible and to work with the appropriate body such as Network Rail, and this was signed by 474 people.

“This has been a long-running campaign which became more urgent because a wheelchair-bound fan had to travel into Walsall town centre and back to Bescot Stadium Station to access the football ground.

“The issue of access to Bescot Stadium affects many of my constituents, including supporters of Walsall FC and Aston Villa Women FC, who use this station to visit the Saddlers for matches and visitors to the market on Sundays and to the Town Centre.

“I hope Network Rail and the Mayor’s office will fulfil their obligations under Section 29 of the Equality Act 2010 which states that service providers have a legal obligation not to discriminate against people on the basis of a protected characteristic and ensure Bescot Stadium Station is accessible for people with prams and people with disabilities.

“This requires a simple lift on either side of the footbridge and a footpath to the Station car park.”

Network Rail and TfWM told Mrs Vaz and supporters they will look at previous assessments carried out before looking what could be done there as well as funding options.

Mal Drury-Rose, director of rail for TfWM, said: “We want to review the assessment that was done before and look at what can be done here.

“Obviously, working with Network Rail and the operators, there are solutions that can be looked at quickly so we’re going to go away and do that work and then try and obtain funding to do it.”