LIFTS at Laindon station have been out of order for almost two months and residents will have to wait at least another month until they are fixed.
The station’s lifts, managed by rail operator c2c, stopped working in the first week of April, leaving mothers of young children, the elderly, and disabled struggling to access rail services.
The firm has this week confirmed it is working with contactors and Network Rail to fix the issues and is targeting a July 1 date for completion.
Langdon Hill resident Irene Blackwell, 83, says she is worried about having to climb the stairs next week when she heads into London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Ms Blackwell is headed to the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday, June 2 hoping to catch a glimpse of the procession as it leaves Buckingham Palace.
“I will need some help getting up the stairs as I find it very hard without the lifts but I don’t want to miss the parade,” she said.
“I hope they get them fixed as soon as possible.”
Councillor Hazel Green who seven months ago became a grandmother says the problem has been a nightmare when looking after her granddaughter.
“It’s dangerous trying to life a pushchair down the steps with a baby in, it’s not easy I tell you,” the Nethermayne councillor said.
“Getting up and down the stairs with a baby is not easy. And when I see other mothers struggling with their children and babies, I feel furious.”
Ms Green says it has also caused issues for an elderly resident of hers.
“I have a 91-year-old relative who came to stay with us all the way from Maidenhead and he finds it difficult, having to climb up the flights of stairs.”
Councillor Kerry Smith, the county councillor for Langdon Hills, said: “The amount of people who have complained to me to ask when it is getting fixed is ludicrous.
“Young mums with buggies, people with disabilities, and the elderly, they are all struggling.”
Station manager c2c has been contacted for comment.
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