A plan to make a tube station fully step-free this year will fail to meet its deadline, Transport for London has confirmed.

In 2018, TfL announced Rickmansworth as one of 13 stations that will see its access improved by 2022.

The station already benefits from step-free access southbound but improvements are needed for passengers travelling in the other direction.

But at an event last week celebrating Harrow-on-the Hill station becoming the Tube's 91st step-free station, London mayor Sadiq Khan warned funding was required to make other projects a reality.

He said: "It's great news that a third of stations on the Tube network are now step-free, with more to come during 2022 - but unless Government provides TfL with the longer-term capital funding it needs, further step-free improvements are at risk."

Some projects will go ahead this year but a TfL spokesperson confirmed to the Observer that due to the "ongoing certainty" about longer-term funding, step-free schemes that are not in construction, such as Rickmansworth, have been "paused".

They added: "Making travel in London easier for all including our disabled customers is one of our top priorities.

"Future projects remain subject to funding with a long-term, sustainable programme of investment for the capital, yet to be secured.

"Should TfL be required to move to a 'managed decline' scenario due to no sufficient long-term Government funding being forthcoming, investment in further improving step-free access at stations would be impacted.

"This would likely mean that no step-free access schemes, other than those which are currently in construction, would be completed - unless they were funded by third parties."

Despite the funding concerns, TfL is consulting on which stations should be given step-free access.

Watford councillors Peter Kloss, Jessica Stiff, and Ian Stotesbury have made the case for Watford Met station near Cassiobury Park to be included.

TfL's funding concerns aren't a secret - it says it has needed to fill a £500 gap in its finances as a result of the pandemic.

Mr Khan wants to expand the ultra low emission zone to the whole of London, which will boost revenue, as drivers that don't comply with emission standards wil face a £12.50 charge.

But plans to make drivers who live outside of Greater London pay to drive into the capital - known as the Greater London Boundary Charge - have been dropped.

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