Daisy Hill train station: Plans lodged for new lift

Plans have been submitted to Bolton Council for the elevator at Daisy Hill Station in Westhoughton. 

In its current form, the platforms are only accessible via stairs. In 2019, funding was put in place to create disabled facilities at the station. 

Now, a planning application has been submitted to Bolton Council for the lift to be brought in.

Cllr David Chadwick of Westhoughton South said: “I am ecstatic, it has taken long enough. It has been a long, hard slog. We are moving slowly forward, although I wish it was quicker.

“It was identifying funding that was the problem. It is good to be in the top 10, but a lot of different projects on the railways want funding. 

“It was in the top 10 stations in Greater Manchester which required disabled facilities. I think Daisy Hill was number two or three.

“It is predicted to be installed around the period of 2024 to 2025. It would be wonderful if we can get it in that timescale." 

Daisy Hill Station (Image: David Wilkinson)

He added: “It speaks to the fact that we ought to be more aware of people with disabilities.

“If anyone has ever been at Daisy Hill Station and seen people with disabilities struggling to get down the steps, walking 20 steps or more, or young families, people with children and pushchairs. I just want it to be done and dusted.”

Chris Green, MP for Bolton West, said: “I had a meeting with Nusrat Ghani about securing funding for there to be step-free access to Daisy Hill railway station.

“We won commitment from her, that Daisy Hill would get funding. So I am glad that the proposals of a year in the making have come through.

“Hope will see this in the near future. For years the Government has made a commitment to people in Daisy Hill.” 

This comes after plans were delayed in July due to 'rising costs'. 

Work on it was delayed and the rising costs meant the contract had to be relooked at.