A LONGSTANDING newsagent is fighting for the future of his shop after rail bosses decided to kick him out of Redhill train station.
David Wool has owned and run the newsagents in the Redstone Hill station since 1983 – first as a shop on the platform and later in the main station.
But now rail bosses have decided to remove the shop, as part of a major redevelopment to improve access to the station and its subway.
It is believed the million pound redevelopment will allow disabled access to the subway from the ticket office, and will improve access to the main station.
Southern Rail spokesman Chris Hudson said: "I can confirm that Mr Wool's lease will not be renewed.
"This has been made necessary by the requirement that we make our stations as fully accessible as possible to our customers with impaired mobility.
"There are currently lifts linking the platforms to the subway, but there is no similar facility which would allow, for example, a wheelchair to access the subway from the booking office area.
"We have recently allocated funding of approximately £1 million to make good this shortage, but this funding is subject to time constraints, and the work needs to be put in hand very quickly.
"There is no realistic alternative site for this lift, and therefore Mr Wool will have to vacate his unit."
He added: "There is no possibility of Mr Wool's business being re-sited anywhere on the station."
When asked about the decision to remove him from the station, Mr Wool said: "In 1983 I used to have a shop where the information desk is now.
"Then I moved into the subway with the agreement of me being allowed to trade on the subway.
"When the redevelopment took place in 1991, I was offered alternative space to trade."
But despite his history at the station and his request for a different trading space – he asked rail bosses if he could move back on to the station platform – he will be forced to leave when his lease runs out on February 1. Work is set to begin immediately.
Mr Wool is currently taking legal advice, hoping to challenge Southern Rail's decision to close his shop down.
