CAMPAIGNERS fighting for improved access and an upgrade to disabled facilities at Marsden station have gone to the top.

They have taken a 1,000-name petition to Westminster, calling for urgent safety work.

The residents were joined by Colne Valley councillor Nicola Turner and travelled to London to meet Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport.

They presented him with the petition calling on Northern Rail to fix station steps and make them safer.

They have also called for a health and safety inspection to make the station safer in the short-term.

Clr Turner said: “I have been approached by many residents about the problems faced by them.

“Many have said they do not use the station because of the dangerous conditions.

“I can see for myself the difficulties faced by disabled visitors, the elderly and also parents with pushchairs.

“I feel that improved access to the station can only be positive in terms of drawing in visitors, who may have otherwise been put off by the current dangerous state.”

She said they had asked the minister to look into using Government monies, already earmarked for improving access to stations, to be used at Marsden to install a footbridge and ramped access for the platforms.