Commuter ‘gloom’ as Haywards Heath station side entrance closed

The Middy was contacted by Rob, a commuter who travels from Haywards Heath to London Bridge, who said the changes pose a ‘significant inconvenience to the hundreds of passengers that use this entrance every day’.

He said: “I have used the side entrance on a daily basis for more than thirty years I will now have an additional five minute walk morning and evening to use the front entrance and walk back down the platform.

“It doesn’t sound much but it is for two years – and I am one of hundreds.

“In addition I predict significant disruption to traffic at the front of the station due to the additional drop offs and pick ups transferred from the side.

“I understand that there is building work going on but I am sure some provision could have been made to keep the entrance open while this is taking place.”

Work on a new multi- storey station car park began in November last year.

Since the building work started, commuters have struggled to find car parking spaces as existing bays are closed off to make room for the development.

However, Southern Rail bosses warned passengers there could be ‘a bit of pain before the gain’.

A spokesman for Southern Rail said: “Construction of the new multi-storey car park at Haywards Heath station has reached the point where the subway and entrance at Boltro Road has had to be closed to enable the building of the footbridge from the car park across to the platforms.

“The subway will not re-open, but there will be a lift and stairs up to the footbridge from the Boltro Road entrance once it re-opens in the summer of 2016 when the project is completed.”

“Passenger information regarding the closure of the Boltro Road entrance has been displayed at the station for a number of weeks and on Wednesday, we erected signage directing people towards the main entrance.”