The lift outside Luton Railway Station is to be closed for around eight weeks from Monday 30 April to allow for a major refurbishment.
We have scheduled works in order to lengthen the lift’s useful life by another 15 to 20 years, and improve its reliability.
The lift, which gives access between Station Road and the top of the station staircase, was originally installed by the Council at a cost of around £118,000 in 1997 but has suffered reliability issues in recent months, sometimes caused by acts of vandalism.
The work is to install new control gear, hydraulics and internal and external finishes as well as more vandal-resistant doors and landing gear, and represents an investment of around £65,000.
Cllr Roy Davis, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said: “The lift has done us proud in the grand scheme of things but it is getting increasingly difficult to source replacement parts and is getting beyond economical repair.
“This situation has not been helped by recent sporadic acts of vandalism, causing the lift to be out of action too many times and for too long, and greatly inconveniencing pedestrians with disabilities.”
Cllr Davis added: “The recent installation of CCTV in the area is already helping, and this work is aimed at making the lift fit for purpose to serve the new Station Interchange that is being built as part of the Luton Dunstable Busway.
“We are still hoping of course that our significant work to regenerate this area will be backed up by Network Rail securing funding to greatly improve passenger access to platforms at Luton station.”
A signed and DDA-compliant pedestrian diversion will operate via Midland Road, Church Street and Station Road, and vice versa.
It is anticipated that works to the lift will complete by Friday 22 June.