Costs to install a lift at a railway station have risen meaning works will have to be delayed.

A Westhoughton councillor said he is ‘disappointed’ that works to install the lift at Daisy Hill Train Station have been delayed.

Cllr David Wilkinson said the lift is going to be delayed being installed stating works should have been completed by August.

He said tenders for the work have now increased above Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) original budget and are now going back through TfGM to sort out more funding for the work.

Cllr David Wilkinson said: “The news of the delay is extremely disappointing; we understand that the prices for the work came in above TfGM tender, and it will have to go back through their system.

“We really need this lift to allow people with disabilities access to trains, it would also allow people with prams and buggies to use the station.

“It is disgrace not only locally in Greater Manchester but nationally that access for potential passengers is still being denied.

“Residents in Daisy Hill and Westhoughton have waited many years and I’m hoping that TfGM get this lift installed.

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“They seem to spend vast amounts of money on fancy schemes but the rights of people with disabilities to access trains are so low down the list.”

Simon Elliott, TfGM’s Head of Rail Programme, said: “We want to make all public transport fully inclusive, and we are committed to improving accessibility at railway stations across Greater Manchester.

“Daisy Hill was one of the first stations to be prioritised for investment and we are working with industry partners to deliver step free access there as soon as possible.”

In 2018, the GMCA was awarded DfT Access for All funding for projects to improve three Greater Manchester stations on a prioritised list of stations, which included Walkden, Daisy Hill and Irlam.

In relation to Daisy Hill, several issues were encountered during the tendering process that impacted the overall cost of the scheme, including inflation and supply chain issues.

However, additional funding has been secured and the scheme will be progress at pace with a target completion date in 2024.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.