Campaigners outside Kentish Town Underground Station which is closed for escalator works

• IN responding to Ms Lazenby’s letter commenting on mine (It’s the budget that’s the problem, not disabled people, July 13), I again urge her and the Camden Disability Action (CDA) group to take a large dose of reality.

Both the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) are very conscious of the needs of not just disabled but others such as those she mentions, mothers with buggies, pregnant women etc.

Since the passing of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) there is a legal obligation to do whatever is practical and affordable to facilitate public transport access to everyone, irrespective of their status. That is why London has lost the lovely Routemasters with rear platform access because they did not meet the DDA requirements.

TfL has a long list of stations at which they plan to provide step-free access, but unfortunately the layout of Kentish Town Underground station is such that it is not physically practical to provide a lift, hence the urgency in fixing the escalators.

They certainly could not provide both and irrespective of the DDA, even if it were possible to do so (it is not) to cater for peak hour flows they would need at least two, probably three lifts such as at Belsize Park and Hampstead.

As I wrote previously, both West Hampstead (for lifts) and Camden Town (additional entrances) are on the waiting list for access improvements, outstanding for many years, so Kentish Town is lucky to have its escalators being fixed now.

I can only suggest that the CDA clients and visitors use the excellent Camden dial-a-ride facility which has specially equipped mini buses with lifts for wheelchairs etc and can take them to and from home, hospital, shopping or wherever they require.

JOHN STRATTON, NW3