Full steam ahead for Marsden railway station safety petition

Dec 28 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUNDREDS of people have joined forces to call on train bosses to improve safety at Marsden railway station.

More than 900 people – nearly a quarter of the village’s population – have signed a petition calling for the Northern Rail managed train station to be brought up to modern standards.

The campaign was launched after a resident suffered a nasty accident there.

Pam Etheridge, of Boat Lane, Marsden, fell while descending the station steps to catch a train last November.

She suffered a fractured shoulder and severe damage to her muscles and tendons and had to undergo painful physiotherapy.

Mrs Etheridge has now filed a personal injury claim.

The accident prompted her husband Richard, a retired university lecturer, to start a campaign calling for safer access at the station.

Dr Etheridge claimed current access – particularly the staircases to platforms one and two from the road bridge – were ‘dangerous’ for the elderly, disabled and parents with pushchairs.

He says the strength of public support shows many believe the station isn’t up to scratch.

He said: “I think to have 917 signatures, which is a quarter of the population of Marsden. This number is pretty good and says it all.

“The people who have signed it all say the same thing – that the staircase isn’t safe and the station has go to be modernised and improved.