Alfreton Town Council has reacted angrily to the news that the disability works at the Towns station to make platform two accessible to all users has seemingly been pulled just eighteen months after the scheme was given the green light.The scheme had also been fully surveyed, designed and costed, and presented to the public last autumn. The Town Council are seeking formal confirmation, but understand the scheme has been pulled by the Department for Transport. Cllr Scott Walker, Leader of the Council said ‘the public needs to be aware that it is the Government who have stopped the scheme and the reality of the situation is that it could be more than seven years before the scheme comes around. It is unacceptable that the scheme has been stopped again and that the bad news has been sneaked out when cynically before the last General Election the news of the scheme approval was broadcast from the rooftops’ The Town Council has also had train operating companies contacting them unsure of the situation as they have not been told by the Government department.

The Town Council has vowed to keep up its 20 year fight, and is working with a number of bodies to highlight the plight of disabled passengers and bring about a discrimination claim. Town Mayor Mary Kerry added ‘the situation beggars belief with unprecedented investment in the rail industry, when fares keep rising faster than inflation and HS2 is going to connect with a route that some people can’t even access. The scheme is all designed and it is no defence that the cost of the scheme make it reasonable for the discrimination to take place when the vast budgets of Network Rail are considered’. The Town Council also understands that a taxi service is available for disabled customer’s, but needs to be booked in advance. The Council has asked that the service be advertised, but the train operating companies are not prepared to change the signage at the station advising customers to take a one hour detour. The Town Council encourages rail users to ask about and use this service.

Alfreton Town Council has raised concerns for public safety with the news that local bus operator Trent Barton is to press ahead with the introduction of larger buses on the nines route only months after assuring local residents that it would not run larger busses down Alma and Grange Streets in the town. The promise came at a public meeting organised by the Town Council and attended by over 100 residents after much concern that the roads along the new route were extremely narrow and congested and pass three schools, three nurseries and a Surestart centre.

Town Mayor Cllr Mary Kerry said “not only is it regrettable that busses continue to run down narrow residential streets filled daily with young children, but to find out that Trent Barton are reneging on their promise to local residents a little over eighteen months since the public meeting is totally unacceptable “. The Town Council has called upon Trent Barton to rethink its plans and keep its promise and run their larger busses via the High Street to protect local residents and school children.