LEADING Green John Whitelegg has attacked the operators of Lancaster rail-way station after claiming cyclists couldn't get their trains because a gate was closed.

Cllr Whitelegg claimed a fellow councillor was told the gate - leading onto the cycle track - was closed because of the threat of terrorism.

However, Virgin Trains insists that while they are on a high state of alert nationwide after the terrorist bombings in London, the gate is shut largely because of thefts from the station.

Says Cllr Whitelegg: "One of my councillor colleagues cycled to the station last week and tried to go in by the cyclist entrance. It was locked.

"When she enquired why, she was told it was closed 'because of terrorism', but I cannot understand how locking this entrance prevents terrorists. This is an illogical and prejudicial action against cyclists since there is no improved security to the pedestrian access or to the car park."

He goes on: "Lancaster Station proudly displays the awards it has received for innovative integration of cycling and rail use, yet it has needlessly closed off a convenient off-road route into the station and the cycle parking area."

Councillor Whitelegg has written to station managers at Virgin Trains to ask that the gate is re-opened.

However, a spokesman for Virgin Trains countered: "There is still perfectly good access into the railway station from the front entrance - and that adds about 15 seconds onto a cyclist's journey which is hardly an inconvenience.

"The gates were closed partly because there had been a series of thefts from the railway station and partly because of the threat of terrorism."