Pupils’ victory over East Worthing problem platforms

WORK to widen a railway station’s ‘dangerously crowded’ and narrow platforms has begun after a pupils’ safety campaign.
Davison and St Andrews pupils Ella and Max Griffifths on the narrow platform at East Worthing        W01047H14Davison and St Andrews pupils Ella and Max Griffifths on the narrow platform at East Worthing        W01047H14
Davison and St Andrews pupils Ella and Max Griffifths on the narrow platform at East Worthing W01047H14

Schools, councillors and MPs have praised Network Rail’s swift action to begin widening East Worthing’s platforms by 1.5 metres on both sides.

The station is regularly used by children at Davison and St Andrew’s schools, with overcrowding commonplace during term time.

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Concerns were raised by Davison pupils, who discussed the issue with Network Rail and politicians.

Assistant head Richard Shakespeare said: “We are very pleased that pupil safety is going to be given a very high priority. It has been a concern and the feeling was it could be better, so it is good news.”

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton was joined by Worthing Borough councillors Roger Oakley and Keith Bickers in May last year, who witnessed the problems first-hand.

Meetings were sought with Southern Rail and Network Rail and CCTV was installed to monitor the platforms during busy times, before the green light was given to begin work on Monday.

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out Thursday, January 9.

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