Islington Council has today launched a legal challenge against Transport for London (TfL) over the decision to close Caledonian Road tube station for eight months.

Caledonian Road tube station, which is on the Piccadilly Line, is set to close on March 14 until October this year, so that the stations two lifts can be refurbished simultaneously.

But Islington Council argues that an alternative would be to repair the lifts one after the other, which would mean the station can remain open while the upgrade is being carried out.

In its claim, the Council says that the closure discriminates against disabled and elderly people, who require the use of the lifts.

Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, Cllr Claudia Webbe, said: “Closing Caledonian Road station for eight months will have a huge impact on the local community, especially disabled and older people.

“We have asked TfL to look at repairing one lift at a time and keeping the station open, which would be a big help to disabled and older people, but they haven’t done this.

“We have been left with little choice but to take action on behalf of local residents. We urge TfL to reconsider, to repair one lift at a time, and keep this vital step-free station open.”

Responding to news of the legal challenge, Gareth Powell, Director of Strategy for London Underground, said the closure would ensure customer safety at the station.

“We’re sorry for the disruption that the work we are planning will cause customers, however we believe it would not be safe to have the station open while the essential upgrade is carried out,” he said.

“Customer safety is our number one priority, which is why we intend to close the station to replace the lifts in the safest way. We have not taken the decision lightly and will complete the work as quickly as possible so that customers can benefit from a much improved, quicker and more reliable service.”

The council’s application for judicial review has now been made at the Administrative Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, London.