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Protests as 15 Cheshire railway stations threatened with ticket office …

Protestors gathered at Northwich railway station yesterday to protest the closure of the station's ticket office. Over 20 local residents, inculding disability campaigners, rail workers and the local MP gathered outside the station Sunday (July 16).

Under government plans announced July 5, 15 of Cheshire's railway stations are set to close permanently, with up to 1,000 closing across the country. The protestors argued the changes will make the rail network less accessible to some elderly, disabled and vulnerable passengers.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury called the protest. Addressing those gathered, he said: “This protest is about the closure of ticket offices. Northwich[1] Station is one of 1,000 proposed closures. The Government has given 21 days in terms of consultation, which is an affront to common-sense and democracy in itself.

“But I would encourage everyone to take part in that consultation and to say ‘no way’ to ticket office closures.”

Lynne Turnbull, CEO of Northwich-based charity Disability Positive, said: “It’s an absolute travesty they are looking at closing the ticket office here in Northwich and up and down the country.

Mike Amesbury MP addresses protestors at Northwich railway station Sunday, July 16.

“As we know here at Northwich, it’s completely inaccessible but closing the ticket office is just another barrier. That’s even more of a barrier when we are talking about net zero and trying to encourage more people to use public transport and not use their vehicles.”

Rail operators launched a 21-day public consultation led by Transport Focus was launched July 5. Stations operated by Avanti West Coast –Crewe[3], Macclesfield[4], Runcorn, and Warrington[5] Bank Quay– are subject to that consultation ending Wednesday, July 26.

Northern Trains, which operates 11 of the affected Cheshire stations, including Runcorn, is also conducting a consultation led by Transport Focus ending a minute before midnight on Friday, July 28. The RMT Union says over 2,000 jobs will be lost due to the planned closures.

The Department for Transport has claimed the changes are "not about cutting jobs," that the ticket office closures are about "getting staff out from behind ticket office screens and into more active, customer-facing roles," and that "no station which is currently staffed will be unstaffed as a result of these proposed reforms."

Signaller Keith Simpson, branch secretary of RMT Chester[6] branch, said: “We are here today facing the prospect of the ticket office closing and more jobs being culled as a result of this Tory Government.

Protestors campaign against the planned ticket office closure at Northwich railway station Sunday (July 16).

“They care not a jot about working people, about people in poverty, about the disabled.”

Cllr Andrew Cooper (Leftwich, Lab) said: “How can we can call ourselves a compassionate and inclusive society if we allow this to happen?

“And let’s not forget the hardworking staff who have faithfully served not only our community but communities up and down the country for years.

“These are dedicated individuals who know their towns, their people and their needs. They go above and beyond, providing an essential service and a friendly face to people who need it.”

A petition launched by Mr Amesbury has received 274 signatories as of Monday morning (July 17).

Lynne Turnbull, Lynne Turnbull, CEO of Northwich-based charity Disability Positive, addresses protestors at Northwich railway station.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “These industry-led consultations are about enhancing the role of station workers and getting staff out from behind ticket office screens and into more active, customer-facing roles that will allow them to better support all passengers. This is not about cutting jobs - no station which is currently staffed will be unstaffed as a result of these proposed reforms.

"We have been consistently honest about the need for our railways to modernise if they are going to survive. Reviewing the role of ticket offices – with the least busy selling only one ticket an hour – is a crucial part of this."

Northern Trains, operator of Northwich railway station, was approached for comment.

Cllr Andrew Cooper addresses protestors at Northwich railway station.

Full list of Cheshire stations to be left without ticket offices:

  • Crewe
  • Macclesfield
  • Runcorn
  • Warrington Bank Quay
  • Alderley Edge
  • Birchwood
  • Congleton
  • Handforth
  • Disley
  • Holmes Chapel
  • Knutsford
  • Northwich
  • Sandbach
  • Warrington West
  • Widnes

NEWSLETTER: Sign up for CheshireLive email direct to your inbox here[7]

References

  1. ^ Northwich (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
  2. ^ Council responds to cinema chain's administration shock as Crewe Royal Arcade update planned (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
  3. ^ Crewe (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
  4. ^ Macclesfield (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
  5. ^ Warrington (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
  6. ^ Chester (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)
  7. ^ Sign up for CheshireLive email direct to your inbox here (www.cheshire-live.co.uk)

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