Valerie intervenes in Adjournment Debate on Accessibility at Railway stations

On 9 September 2025 I attended and intervened in a debate secured by Helen Hayes MP’s adjournment debate on the accessibility of railway stations. 

 I made the following intervention:

“she mentioned a list of stations in her constituency,  I would like to mention Bescot Stadium station in my constituency. Does she agree that if a station is inaccessible, the figures that are quoted for its footfall will be much lower?”

Helen Hayes MP replied:

“My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that the figures cannot account for passengers who cannot access a station, and I welcome her campaign for the station in her constituency. This is a national issue.”

In another intervention, I asked Simon Lightwood MP, the Minister for Transport:

“I would be grateful if the Minister could say how disabled people are counted in the footfall count.”

The Minister responded:

“Perhaps I could come back to my right hon. Friend on that—I will consult the Rail Minister and ensure that I get her an accurate answer.”

I have campaigned for Bescot Stadium Station to be made accessible and was pleased to be able to raise the issue again reminding the Minister that the criteria for funds to make the station accessible need to be updated.