PLANS to improve accessibility at Battle railway station have received a welcome funding boost from the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.

In July 2022, Rother District Council’s Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy Allocations Panel allocated £1million from its Rural Rother Infrastructure Fund to Network Rail to build a new footbridge with lifts at the station.

However, the scheme was reliant on Government funding and the Access for All (AfA) award marks a significant milestone towards realising the infrastructure project.

50 stations across the country have been selected for initial feasibility work and, if that is successful, will be taken forward as part of the AfA programme.

Currently, Battle Station only has step-access between platforms, which prevents use of the station by anyone requiring step-free access.

Cllr Christine Bayliss, portfolio holder for regeneration and economic development at Rother District Council, said: “We welcome the plans to make Battle Station more accessible and were pleased to be able to allocate funding to the project.

“The Government’s announcement that the station is one of 50 to be successful in bidding to the Access for All programme is great news, and we look forward to seeing the initial feasibility work get underway.”

The Community Infrastructure Levy allows local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area to fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed to support new development.

More information about the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy can be found online at  www.rother.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/community-infrastructure-levy-cil-2/about-cil/

Further details on Access for All funding is available on the .gov.uk website – www.gov.uk/government/publications/railway-stations-awarded-access-for-all-accessibility-funding/railway-stations-awarded-access-for-all-accessibility-funding

Published: 9th July 2024