Pensioners Press for Station Loos

9.21.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Nov 2006

Richmond Older People's Forum is pressing South West Trains to reopen closed station loos in some of the 10 local stations where there are currently no facilities.

A deputation from the Forum visited Vincent Cable MP in Parliament and he has asked South West Trains' Chief Executive to have a fresh look at the issue, starting with Hampton, which probably has the strongest case for toilet facilities.

Vincent Cable said: "For many elderly people in particular - but other groups also, with medical conditions which require proximity to a loo - this is a really serious issue, though one which causes some embarrassment to discuss publicly.

"There are currently only three local stations with loos - Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington - though there is better provision in some of the fast trains from Waterloo. There is a particular problem in Hampton where travellers face a 40 minute journey to Waterloo on trains which do no have loos. I have asked South West Trains to be helpful on this matter, even though it is not in their franchise agreement."