REFERRING to your front page article Help The Disabled (News Shopper, May 18). I wholeheartedly support your article.

I am appalled South Eastern Trains branded this as a publicity stunt.

Although Orpington Station may be accessible for wheelchair users, it is a token accessibility and does not apply to the whole station.

My parents, who are both in their 70's, travel to London at least three times a week for hospital visits. My mum is confined to a wheelchair.

The disabled parking in Orpington has improved and their journey to London is fairly simple, with station staff being extremely helpful at all times.

However, the problem starts when they return to Orpington.

They have to make sure they get on a train which will come in on the Station Approach side, otherwise they are stranded in the middle platforms.

Station Approach was recently resurfaced and now there is no slope onto the zebra crossing, making this a difficult and painful obstacle for my mum.

Like Miss Witton, mum and dad then have to negotiate their way around the station, in all weathers, to return to their car.

Station staff have told my parents they can bring their car round to Station Approach.

However, on the two occasions they have done this they have had to park in the bus stop.

This then appears to upset the bus drivers and causes all sorts of problems with other traffic.

If South Eastern Trains think they are making our stations accessible to the disabled, they are sadly mistaken.

They should try using a wheelchair themselves!

GILLIAN RUSSELL

Beblets Close

Green Street Green