Make South Wimbledon Station Step-Free!
South Wimbledon has no step-free access, making it inaccessible for wheelchair users, parents with prams and others with mobility problems. Having step-free access to platforms would be transformative, allowing these passengers to travel with dignity and safety.
At the London Assembly, Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Hina Bokhari OBE formally presented a petition of more than 1,000 local signatures calling on Transport for London and the Mayor of London to prioritise making South Wimbledon Underground Station step-free.
The petition highlights the lack of step-free access at South Wimbledon station, which currently prevents or severely restricts use by wheelchair users, parents with prams, older residents, and others with mobility challenges. Campaigners say that installing lifts would be transformative, enabling safer, more dignified and more independent travel for thousands of local people.
The call for action follows a 2023 study which rated South Wimbledon high deliverability and cost-effectiveness for delivering 'step-free' access, but TfL have so far failed to take any action.
Liberal Democrat councillor Klaar Dresselaers said:
"Now is absolutely the right time to press ahead and make South Wimbledon step-free. Residents are tired of waiting – accessible transport is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
The petition also notes that the London Assembly recently passed a budget-related motion calling for greater investment in step-free access across the Tube network.
Hina Bokhari AM said:
"We need to see action from TfL and from the Mayor. Just last week, the London Assembly agreed that we've got to invest more money to make our network step-free. For so many residents in South Wimbledon, this lack of accessibility is making life just unnecessarily difficult every single day. The time is now to act and that's why we're calling on TfL to stop dragging their heels and get on with it."
Merton Liberal Democrat campaigners point to recent success in securing step-free access at Motspur Park station as proof that sustained community campaigning can deliver results and say they will continue pressing until South Wimbledon is made accessible too.
Last January, local Lib Dems were thrilled to attend the opening of the lift in Motspur Park station, the latest win in their decade-long campaign for step-free stations across our community. Cllr John Braithwaite said: “While celebrating this win, we recognise there is a long way to go, and won’t stop fighting for inclusive travel.”
Support the campaign by signing the petition below!
South Wimbledon station step-free access
A pre-feasibility study was undertaken in Autumn 2023 to consider which of the 12 stations on the Northern line between Borough and South Wimbledon are best suited for step-free investment, South Wimbledon was rated highly in terms of deliverability but was not prioritised for a full feasibility study with a view to start works.
