Work is set to begin on a £1 million scheme to improve the accessibility of Chippenham train station.

The project is being delivered by Great Western Railway (GWR) on behalf of Wiltshire Council and will see the station become fully accessible from both sides of the railway. Work will start next week after contractors attended the site on Tuesday, December 3.

This will involve the introduction of a third lift, on the northern side of the station, to allow step-free access to platforms from both sides of the railway.

The plans also include additional disabled car parking spaces, more cycle parking facilities and the turning of the staircase on the northern side of the footbridge, which is a public right of way.

GWR’s development manager Luke Chard claimed that, as well as improving accessibility, the project would make this public footbridge safer for users.

He said: “This is the next stage in our planned improvements for Chippenham station. It will mean a more welcoming, safer environment and a fully accessible station.

“Turning the staircase also means we will be able to create a safer entrance and exit for anyone using the public right of way, which will no longer feed straight on to the road.”

The project comes after a £1.98 million package of transport measures was carried out by the council to improve pedestrian and cyclist access to the station.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, the council member for transport, added: “We are really pleased to see this improvement scheme start. Our aspiration is to have well-connected communities that enable local communities to live, work and play locally. These continued improvements at the station fully support this aim.”

The adjustments to the footbridge staircase mean the public right of way via the footbridge will be closed from Monday, January 9 until the Spring.

Pedestrians not accessing the railway will have to use an alternative route via Union Road, New Road and Station Hill. The two current station lifts and the south side stairs will remain open during the works.

Network Rail’s project sponsor Alina Wolfe Murray thanked pedestrians for the patience during these works and insisted they will create a safer public right of way.

She said: “Turning the stairs to the north of the station will also allow for safer pedestrian access and an improved walking route for people using the public right of way.

“We’d like to thank local residents and passengers for their patience while this work is completed. We’ll look to minimise inconvenience where we can.”