Labour’s candidate in next month’s council by-election has called for a lift to be installed at Wimbledon Park tube station and said she would fight the closure of a GP surgery.

Louise Deegan, who lives in south Wimbledon (Abbey ward), will contest the Wimbledon Park ward seat after Tariq Lord Ahmad announced he was stepping down to focus on his parliamentary duties in Westminster.

Ms Deegan, a women’s officer for Wimbledon Labour party, was selected ahead of two other Labour party candidates on Wednesday, March 28.

She said she would fight to save Vineyard Hill Surgery, in Vineyard Hill Road and call for accessibility to be improved at Wimbledon Park tube station on Arthur Road.

She said: “Literally thousands of people depend on this surgery and I will do everything I can to save it from what this Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition is doing to the NHS.

“Wimbledon Park station must be made more accessible by having a lift or escalator installed, for the benefit of disabled users and mums with pushchairs.”

Ms Deegan added she hoped her chances of winning the seat, which Lord Ahmad held with a 600-vote majority, would be helped by an improved showing for Labour in Wimbledon Park’s neighbouring ward, Southfields.

Southfields, part of Wandsworth Council, was retained by the Conservatives but with a much reduced majority after an 18-point swing to Labour.

Louise Deegan will contest the by-election on May 3 against Linda Taylor (Conservative) and Dave Busby (Liberal Democrat).

Got a story for us? Call 020 8722 6333, tweet @WimbledonNews or email: newsdesk@wimbledonguardian.co.uk.