SOMETHING must be done to prevent serious injury at Bridgwater Station’s “death gap”, a group has declared.

Friends of Bridgwater Station says new safety measures must be a priority after Sedgemoor District Council agreed to lobby companies and the Department of Transport for improved services.

The group is now calling for a device known as a Harrington Hump to help bridge the gap between the platform and trains as part of major redevelopment works planned to revamp the station.

A spokesman for the Friends of Bridgwater Station said: “We welcome news that Sedgemoor District Council is lobbying for better services at Bridgwater Railway Station.

“However, it is also important to achieve improvements in safe access to and departure from trains at the station. The enormous gap between carriage and platforms at Bridgwater, known locally as ‘the death gap’, must be addressed, before someone is seriously hurt.

“The Harrington Hump has been used on many stations in Devon and Cornwall to reduce this problem. It consists of a wide, prefabricated structure which raises the platform height. 

“There could be technical problems in the installation, but we are told these are not insurmountable.”

The Friends of Bridgwater Station say this safety issue should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

The Friends’ spokesman added: “One only has to see the problems the disabled, elderly and parents with young children have when boarding and alighting from trains in Bridgwater.”

Sedgemoor District Council has voted in favour of building an evidence portfolio with Somerset County Council, MPs and LEP and other partners to lobby CrossCountry Trains to improve the high-speed rail service ahead of its 2019 franchise renewal. 

The motion was put forward by Councillor Mick Lerry, who said: “Due to the proposed enhancement of the Bridgwater Railway Station and the development of Hinkley C, along with economic growth, housing, health and education, now is an appropriate time to lobby for an increase in high-speed train connections and an improved rail service through the ‘Sedgemoor Rail Corridor’ to Bristol, where commuters can link with other high-speed rail services."

Bridgwater Station is set to have £800,000 worth of improvements to the facade and parking and drop off areas.