A petition has been raised calling for a lift to be installed at Rayners Lane underground station.

London Assembly member for Harrow and Brent, Councillor Navin Shah (Labour), will begin gathering signatures at the station in Alexandra Avenue, Harrow, tomorrow (Friday) to kick off his campaign for increased access to the station for the disabled, parents with young children, and the elderly.

The only way to access platforms at Rayners Lane, which was listed as a Grade II building in 1994, is via 33 steps, but Mr Shah is calling for the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to take action and make the station step-free.

He said: "It is scandalous that the station of such importance is not step-free. Rayners Lane is an important strategic and local station serving commuters across north-west London and Harrow’s own residents. The station has a rich architectural heritage and the location of the station plays a big role in the vitality of the local shopping district.

"To make the matters worse the gap and step between the train and platforms make life even more difficult for people in wheelchairs, the disabled and elderly in our community."

The station, designed by architects Charles Holden and Reginald Uren and built in the 1930's, serves both the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines, making it an important junction for commuters.

Mr Shah added: "I have raised a question to the Mayor on this matter and I hope that he would listen to the local community and provide the much needed step-free access. I urge residents, commuters and traders to sign the petition which asks Mayor Johnson to provide step-free access facility like provision of lifts to this station."

Over the past few years there have also been calls for a lift to be installed at Harrow on the Hill station, where there is step-only access.