CAMPAIGNERS and commuters who spent years calling for a Tube station to go step-free are “delighted” their plight has been listened to.

Buckhurst Hill, which is on the Central Line and acts as a gateway between Epping and central London, will finally get easier access.

The station is one of six which will benefit disabled people and parents with pushchairs, to help them access the Tube without navigating a steep flight of stairs.

Green Party councillors Steven Neville and Simon Heap have welcomed the news, after a lengthy, drawn-out campaign.

Cllr Neville said: “It has taken a number of years, defeating arguments put up against doing it, a great deal of pressure by myself and other campaigners, but finally we are.

“I’m quite simply delighted.

“It will be a real boost to disabled people and mums and dads with children in buggies.”

The news was announced by Transport for London (TfL) earlier this week, as part of plans put forward by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

But Cllr Neville warned he will closely monitor the transport body, to ensure the work is carried out by 2020 as promised.

He also praised the Buckhurst Hill Residents’ Society, who he says were instrumental in fighting the campaign.

He added: “I think I can speak for all Buckhurst Hill residents when I say we have been waiting for this for many years.

“We have put a lot of effort into this campaign and I’m glad that Sadiq Khan has signed this off.”

Jenn Page, chairman of the Buckhurst Hill Residents Association, said: “We are all absolutely delighted with this result.

“We have pressed the manager of the Central Line over the last few years over step free access. It is long overdue.”

Buckhurst Hill will be the first of the six stations to get step-free access, and work is expected to begin later this year.

Mr Khan ahas also pledged to make Newbury Park, on the same line, step-free by 2019.

The ambitious project forms part of of the mayor’s £200million plan to improve passenger access at 100 different stations by 2020.

Mr Khan said: “It’s absolutely vital that we make our transport network accessible to all, and by investing more in step-free access than ever before, we’re doing what we can to help people right across the capital.”

Campaigns and outreach officer at Transport for all Catherine Smith said the announcement was “great news for disabled and older people”.