Luton MPs Gavin Shuker and Kelvin Hopkins have rounded on a ‘half-hearted’ grant to improve disabled access at Luton train station.
The Department for Transport has announced that Luton is one of 42 stations across England, Scotland and Wales to be given a share of £100m funding to improve access into stations and between platforms.
With detailed designs yet to have been confirmed for the station it is not yet known how much funding has been allocated to Luton, though the DfT says it expects improvements to be completed by 2019.
Previous work under the Access for All scheme has included improvements such as new ramps, lifts or tactile paving.
The announcement hit a bum note with both of Luton’s Labour MPs, who are calling for a major rebuild of the station.
Mr Hopkins said: “It is the gateway to our town and first impressions are important. We need an attractive, well equipped station to welcome visitors to Luton, not just a halfhearted facelift.”
Mr Shuker added: “The Tories pulled the cash that the last Labour government put in place to completely rebuild Luton Station and now they want credit for money that has to be put in place just to keep the building legal.
“It’s time for this government to give Luton what it deserves: a better station.”