Vince Cable

Richmond Older People's Forum is pressing SW Trains to reopen closed station loos in some of the 10 local stations where there are currently no facilities.

A deputation from the Forum visited Vincent Cable MP in Parliament and he has asked SW Trains' Chief Executive to have a fresh look at the issue, starting with Hampton, which probably has the strongest case for toilet facilities.

Vincent Cable said: "For many elderly people in particular - but other groups also, with medical conditions which require proximity to a loo - this is a really serious issue, though one which causes some embarrassment to discuss publicly.

"There are currently only three local stations with loos - Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington - though there is better provision in some of the fast trains from Waterloo. There is a particular problem in Hampton where travellers face a 40 minute journey to Waterloo on trains which do no have loos. I have asked SW Trains to be helpful on this matter, even though it is not in their franchise agreement."