TRANSPORT minister Claire Perry will visit Pokesdown next month to discuss installing new lifts at the railway station.

Campaigners hoping to make the station more accessible to the elderly and people with heavy luggage, pushchairs and disabilities have had a long wait for the meeting to be arranged after earlier plans were disrupted by the July cabinet reshuffle.

The previous minister Stephen Hammond had been due to visit in the summer, but with a new incumbent, and Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood also appointed to a ministerial role, the date has been pushed back to December 5.

“I am delighted to confirm that Claire Perry MP has accepted my invitation to visit Pokesdown for Boscombe Railway Station in person to learn more about our campaign to reinstate the station lifts,” said Mr Ellwood.

“I have been campaigning tirelessly on this issue and am pleased the Department of Transport is now taking an interest.

“I hope that the minister will see for herself the problems that this station faces due to the lack of modern day appropriate access from the platforms to street level.”

The campaign is organised by Pokesdown Community Forum, which claims South West Trains should have selected the station for access improvements under the Government’s Access for All scheme.

The platform is below street level and down 42 steep steps, however the train firm has claimed the station does not receive enough passengers to qualify for the scheme.

Pokesdown Forum secretary Andy Jones welcomed the news.

“It is fantastic that we will get the opportunity to put our case to the minister, it has been a long wait to get to this point,” he said.

“We are very optimistic about it, there are plenty of other stations comparable with Pokesdown which have had new lifts installed, I don’t see why we should be any different.

“This is something our members have identified as a priority for the area for many years.

“We are looking forward to meeting the minister.”