THE GATEWAY to a seaside town has been described as "frightning".
Concerns have been raised about the state of the bridge spanning the platforms at Rhyl Railway Station with security, disabled access and cleanliness coming under fire.
Town councillor Margaret McCarroll said using the bridge at night could be frightening.
She said: "If it is late at night it can be quite frightening if you are on your own. I make sure someone is there to meet me for reassurance. I just wish it wasn't like that. There are people who wouldn't have people to meet them.
"It is quite sad because otherwise the station has improved, the train service has improved and the staff are very friendly."
Rhyl councillor Melanie Ann Jones said disabled commuters could be left stranded on the platform if they cannot use the bridge lift and that the bridge is being used as a toilet.
She said: "It is a gateway to the town. It is not a nice smell, it is very off putting. There are a lot of problems with the lift. There has to be someone there, and unless you have booked in advance, or even if you have, there is no guarantee.
"If there is nobody there you are stuck. Something has to be done, hopefully in time for the tourism season."
Rhyl Town Council has now invited the person responsible for the station to come and address a future meeting.
A spokeswoman for Arriva Trains Wales said: "Arriva Trains Wales remains dedicated to improving the passenger journey experience and as such, has scheduled improvements for 2011 at Rhyl station.
"Currently, Rhyl station is fully accessible to all disabled passengers. After 9pm, assistance is provided by on train staff and a ramp is available for train access. The on-station lift is also accessible after 9pm via a remote call button facility.
"Measures to ensure the safety and security of our passengers have been implemented including CCTV at the station and all facilities, including the footbridge, are thoroughly cleansed on a daily basis."