[M]P for Penrith and The Border Rory Stewart has convened a meeting at Kirkby Stephen Railway Station to solve the problems around accessing the northbound platform, which involves a dangerous gravel slope down to a busy road, with no parking facilities or safety measures for the disabled, the elderly, or those with children.
Rory brought together representatives from Northern Rail and the Yorkshire Dales National Park to examine all the options with local disability campaigners Debbie and Andy North, members of the Upper Eden Community Plan steering group, Upper Eden CIC and the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company.
Rory Stewart said: “I am confident we can improve the situation for disabled passengers at Kirkby Stephen – starting with a much better ramp and then moving onto bigger investments in the future. I know from the campaign, which I was so pleased to drive on Penrith Station, how much difference this can make to locals, travellers, and tourists. Improvement at Kirkby Stephen are particularly important now that the area is likely to attract ever increasing numbers of visitors as part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. And I am delighted that Northern Rail and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are lending their support to make this happen.”
