‘A battle we needed to fight!’ Campaigners ‘elated’ after Spalding Railway Station ticket office to remain open

Campaigners are ‘elated’ after plans to scrap manned railways stations ticket offices hit the buffers.

Today (Tuesday) it was announced that the proposed mass closure of around 1,000 facilities – including Spalding’s ticket office – have been derailed by the Government.

Local campaigners and groups have been working hard to make their voices heard since the consultation was announced in July, arguing the service would have a detrimental affect on many travellers, who may struggle to use ticket machines for a number of barriers including language, disability and a phobia of modern technology.

“I’m elated. It was such a massive, massive thing that we've won,” said South Holland District Council Vice-Chair Jan Whitbourn, who played a huge part in drumming up local support with a petition which reached signatures into the hundreds.

“In this area we need this. We’ve got the vulnerable, the elderly and people who don’t even have the internet.

“This is absolutely brilliant news for so many people – including me as I like to go in and get my ticket from a person.

“The staff we have there are just brilliant, so helpful. They so deserve this.”

Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum chairman George Scott blasted the plans as ‘stupid’.

He also argued that on-site staff made travellers feel ‘safer’ and questioned how the lift which offers disabled access across platforms would be operated.

“I am very pleased with the campaign we have been running to keep the Spalding ticket office open,” Mr Scott said.

"We need to encourage people to use the trains and the ticket office is a focal point. We just need to improve the service now"

Mr Scott added he would also like to see the ticket office to be open from 6.30pam to 2.30pm.

Another campaigner, SHDC Deputy leader Gary Taylor, welcomed the news as a battle ‘we did need to fight’.

He said: “I’m pleased to hear the message has got through. It’s one of those battles we did need to fight and needed to fight hard, win and stand up to this proposal – which was clearly not thought out properly.

“It’s been a proper consultation because they’ve listened. We’ve spoken out and not listened to organisations which seem to think they know better than passengers.

“It’s great news for the staff, passengers and people with mobility issues and disabilities.

“All over the summer there were young and old asking questions of the staff in the offices. So some battles you do need to fight and win.

“We showed that strength in numbers and working together for the same cause has got a good result.”