Regular users of Hither Green Station will no doubt have noticed that as well as the ramp we use every day that emerges between platforms 4 & 5, there are also blocked up ramps leading directly to platforms 1, 2/3 and 6.    Before Christmas, I was asked why these ramps couldn’t be reopened to allow for easier access to the station for those with pushchairs, bikes, etc.  

I asked this question at the transport liasion meeting we had with Southeastern just before Christmas, and was told they’d look into it.   Then the same issue came up at the Sustainable Development Select Committee (which I’m vice chair of) – turns out other councillors felt the same.   So we referred the issue to Mayor and Cabinet, recommending that they take it up with Southeastern (the thought being that an official approach from the Mayor on behalf of the whole council would have more weight than me asking questions at a liasion meeting!)

I’m really pleased the Mayor’s accepted our recommendation - now we’ve just got to wait to hear what Southeastern think.

The referral’s been picked up over at the (excellent) Hither Green Forum.   As I’ve said over there, we’d need to make sure the ramps were safe and properly lit etc, but it’d make access much easier.  Even for those on foot, there are times at the evening peak when there’s a real crush to get over from platform 6 to the current exit.  Now seems like a good time to take this up – before Oyster Pay as You Go comes to Southeastern (latest date I have is ‘early next year’).

Would be interested to hear others’ views…

We get to meet regularly with staff from Transport for London, Southeastern and local bus operators.  The next meeting is on 9th December, and we’ve got another week or so to submit questions.

So far, I’m planning to ask questions on:

• Whether Southeastern and/or Network Rail have considered bringing the blocked-up ramps at Hither Green Station back into use to allow easier access to platforms we currently have to cross bridges to get to
• Whether Southeastern will introduce more ticket machines (or ticket-selling staff) at Lee Station to cut down on queues at peak times

If anyone has any other transport-related questions, please do let me have them (either by email or using the comments facility below) by Wednesday 19th November.

There’s a meeting of the Friends of the Triangle Nature Reserve on Wednesday 25th June at 7.30pm, in the Parish Room at the Good Shepherd on Handen Road.

Again, Paul has the details on Leepedia.

We’ve heard from SouthEastern that the footpath at Lee Station from the Sidcup-bound platform down to Burnt Ash Road is to be resurfaced tomorrow between 9am and 4pm.

This is great news, as it’s been in quite a state for some time, and was raised by several people in our Lee Station rail user’s survey earlier this year.

The first meeting of the newly formed Friends of Hither Green Triangle Nature Reserve group will be on Wednesday the 30th April at 7.30pm in the Parish Room of the Good Shepherd Church in Handen Road.

Again, Paul has more details here.

Hither Green commuters might have noticed the new community noticeboard at Hither Green Station.  

If you’ve got something happening in Lee Green ward and would like to display it on the noticeboard, contact one of your councillors.    We’re currently accepting A4 artwork, but depending on demand, we might have to reduce this to A5.

We paid for the noticeboard through this year’s locality fund, and I hope it’ll be a useful resource for the ward – there’s always plenty going on!