MP slams 'woolly answers' over railway stations

He is seeking a Commons debate to bring Ministers to account for delays in refurbishing Bexhill s dilapidated railway stations.

As Winter approaches, Bexhil rail users still have no waiting rooms. Wind whistles through broken glass and there are no train indicator boards.

Mr Barker publicly rapped Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport David Jamieson on Tuesday for the "woolly" answer he had given him to questions he raised on behalf of Bexhill rail travellers in the House last week in a transport debate.

The Observer revealed on October 12 how much-needed refurbishment of Bexhill and Cooden Beach stations had been derailed part-way through because Transport Secretary Stephen Byers had put Railtrack into liquidation.

Responding on Monday to Mr Barker s Parliamentary Questions on the progress of refurbishment works, Mr Jamieson was unable to confirm when the next stage would start, except to say it was hoped to complete it by next Spring.

The Bexhill and Battle MP asked what funding would be made available from the Government for the planned improvements and when those improvements would be finished.

Mr Jamieson told him: "The internal structural repairs at Bexhill Station have been completed. South Central are negotiating with Railtrack start dates and costs for the next phase of the refurbishment work: replacement of windows and refurbishing the waiting rooms.

"It is hoped to complete this phase in late Spring 2002.

"South Central are also in discussion with Railtrack about improvements to the platform ramps and reglazing work at Cooden Beach, as well as funding arrangements for the work at both stations."

This is not good enough, says Bexhill s MP.

He told the Observer: "As a result of this woolly answer from the Government, I will be asking for a debate on the matter to bring Ministers to account."