Nearly 100 people have signed a petition calling for better access to one of the platforms at Needham Market’s railway station.

There was a £700,000 improvement scheme carried out at the station in 2015 by Greater Anglia, yet the only access to the Ipswich-bound platform is by a steep underground stairway.

Commuter Jen Overett is one of those who has set up the petition.

In comments published on Needham Market Town Council’s website, she said: “As a regular train traveller fairly new to Needham Market, I’ve been concerned to see elderly people, passengers with buggies or young children and cyclists struggling to use the two sets of steep steps between the Ipswich-bound platform and the station entrance/exit, and for wheelchair users this platform is completely inaccessible.

“I was quite shocked to learn that improvements were quite recently made to Needham station but that these totally failed to take the needs of disabled passengers into consideration.”

A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: “There is step-free access to the Norwich-bound platform at Needham Market station. Greater Anglia pays for London-bound disabled passengers to travel via taxi to Ipswich, where they can continue their journey.

“We care about our customers and want to make sure that everyone is able to complete their journey.”

She said the company’s accessibility manager would be happy to meet the group behind the petition at the station to discuss it further.

She added the work in 2015 was to improve the platform, subway and stairs.

The work included alterations to the arched entry to the platforms and resurfacing the Norwich-bound platform.

Kevin Hunter, town clerk at Needham Market council, said residents had been disappointed by the situation.

“The town council certainly supports the aim of the campaign to try and improve access to the platform to Ipswich,” he said.

“It’s been something which has been a key issue for many years in the town and there have been attempts made in the past to try and persuade the rail company to improve that access. Certainly in my time as town clerk schemes have been drawn up to achieve that but it’s never been taken forward.”