My Lib Dem colleagues and I have written to South Western Railway asking them to show some community spirit and allow pedestrians through Woking Station during underpass works.

The improvement works to the subway under Woking Station is to be welcomed – however, what is unacceptable is the complete disregard for the impact on the ordinary public who regularly use the underpass to go about their everyday lives during the 8 weeks of closure.

Some pedestrians now have to walk a quarter of a mile under the Victoria Arch to get to Woking town centre, or the other way to get from the town to places such as the Community Hospital and doctors’ surgeries. This is impacting on those with seen and unseen disabilities as well as those who are less able to manage the increased distance.

South Western Railway appear to have little interest in minimising the impact of the closure on local residents. It should not be difficult to allow pedestrians to either use the lift or the overpass within the station for these few weeks, and keep life as normal as possible for so many people as we emerge from the pandemic.

Instead, South Western Railway are being obstructive and unreasonable and local staff are upholding policies which focus on minimal ‘fare dodging’ instead of pragmatically adapting the policies for a short period to best serve the local community. With so many stations across the network now being barrier free, it is disappointing that South Western Railway are adopting an obstructive approach.

We have been reminded many times about the unprecedented circumstances in the last two years. The closure of the subway is locally unprecedented, and a time limited inconvenience, so the train company should adapt their practices in everyone’s interest for this short period, and let residents through. We have a strong community spirit in Woking, that’s why my colleagues and I have asked South Western Rail to show that same spirit of cooperation and collaboration that has seen the community through the pandemic.