Is it possible for Network Rail to force the golf club to provide step free access at Seer Green?

[miklcct]

Currently Seer Green station only has step free access for the platform to Marylebone, however, there is a direct, locked gate from the opposite platform step free to the golf club, labelled "no public access".

Is it possible for Network Rail to force the golf club to provide public step free access to the platform for High Wycombe, for example, by blocking off the gate if the golf club doesn't comply?

 

[duncombec]

I'd suggest that it was entirely dependent on ownership of the relevant land, and what covenants and rights of way there are over the gateway. It could be, for example, that there is an access agreement via the platform were the main drive to the Golf Club to be blocked, for example, or likewise if there was an emergency egress route needed were the footbridge to not be available.

I can't really see how Network rail could oblige a private landowner (assuming that's what the golf course is) to allow people to walk over their property, any more than the Golf Club could oblige Network rail to allow people to walk randomly over railway property. Similarly, there would have to be good reason for unilaterally blocking the gateway unless any agreements were cancelled (or there aren't any) - on both sides.

Before any specific answer could be given, you'd have to know who owns the land on both sides and what, if any, agreements were already in place. By the time Network rail had faffed about with that, they may as well put a lift in the footbridge - and for a category E station, I can't see that happening any time soon...

Curiously, the station is given an accessibility rating of B2, which is "Some step free access to all platforms - please check details.", but then it goes on to say Platform 1 is only accessible via footbridge. Was the Gold Club the previous access point to that platform?

 

[HSTEd]

Well, Network Rail could attempt to obtain powers to force the issue.....

Not sure that would really be a productive use of their time though, plus the negative publicity.

 

[zwk500]

Is it possible for Network Rail to force the golf club to provide public step free access to the platform for High Wycombe,

It may not even be Network Rail's responsibility - after all, Chiltern are the people who run the trains and presumably lease the station. And I don't know what legal powers NR or Chiltern would be able to use to enforce a new right of way over another party's land.
Network Rail or Chiltern could always buy the land off the golf club and whatever else it needs to get to a suitable public access point (e.g. the nearest road), and then either lease or sell it back with a covenant in place but then the Golf Club would be able to name their terms. Neither of which secure particularly good value for fare- or tax-payer.

for example, by blocking off the gate if the golf club doesn't comply?

What would this achieve? The golf club would presumably be delighted to have their land more secure! The gate may well have been secured by Network Rail anyway.

The lack of connectivity on the south side of the line and the proximity of Beaconsfield station all contribute to it being poor value to bring the lawyers in. How many years' worth of taxis between Seer Green Village and Beaconsfield could you fund for people unable to use the footbridge at Seer Green station compared to the costs it would involve in a complicated legal wrangle with the golf club?

 

[Bald Rick]

Is it possible for Network Rail to force the golf club to provide public step free access to the platform for High Wycombe, for example, by blocking off the gate if the golf club doesn't comply?

In a word, no, not legally, unless it went down the Transport & Works Act Order route. Even then, that is no guarantee of success , as NR would have to demonstrate that other potential solutions were not reasonable.