12 million visitors a year are expected to attend the new Olympia development. We are shocked to discover that the developers Yoo Capital, Network Rail and Transport for London have no plans to invest in the installation of lifts at Kensington Olympia Station to make this exciting and ambitious destination accessible to all. Kensington Olympia train station is vital in providing public transport links.

This petition asks TFL, Network Rail  and Yoo Capital to work together with urgency to use Section 106 money to install lifts so that everyone, irrespective of their mobility challenges, is equally able to share the opportunities provided by this development when it fully reopens in 2025. The cost of a lift would be a drop in the ocean – and would transform the ability of hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy the new site.

·      At present, there is a 600 metre walk to transfer from one side of the station to the other. This is a prohibitive distance for many with mobility issues.

·      24% of the population have a disability. Approximately 41 percent of working age adults with a disability have a mobility impairment, this increases to 69 per cent in adults at the state pension age. And our population is ageing. TFL,Network Rail and Yoo Capital must surely recognise the critical need for lifts and that it is their duty to work together to support access for everyone, including those with mobility issues.

·      Section 106 money was set aside as payment to TFL for ‘station improvements’ but this is being spent on ‘new gates, seating and shelters’ at the station. There are no plans to use it for lifts. This is an unacceptable decision which surely goes against the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

·      The £1.6 billion masterplan for Olympia comprises a world class performing arts venue, 5000 capacity music venue,1,500 seat theatre, cinemas, conference centre, over 550,000 sq ft of office accommodation, a secondary school, two hotels, over 30 restaurants, bars and cafes. And yet no modest investment in lifts to make this accessible to visitors or workers.