Residents' access barred at Sheffield station

Sheffield station, ‘The Golden Gate’ to the city, stood illuminated in all its £35million regenerated glory last night, as protestors gathered to voice their opposition against plans to install ticket barriers at the station.

In October this year East Midlands Trains announced their plans to install 13 barriers at the station, eight in the front hall and five at the back.

Tim Shoveller, managing director of East Midlands Trains, the company which runs the station, says the barriers are needed to prevent loss of revenue, due to fare dodging.

But Sheffield residents, lecturers, and students who regularly use the station as an access route from their homes, work, schools and colleges to the rest of the city, are strongly opposed to the plans.

Residents Against Station Closure, one of the groups set up to oppose the plans, organised the protest outside the station last night. One of their placards read ‘Don’t cut off our safe path through the station’.

Terry Gallagher, secretary for the RASC, said that the only other route into the town centre from the other side of the station is a dilapidated old bridge, which is dimly lit, full of rubbish and graffiti and very difficult for wheelchair users and pushchairs to access.

Sheffield City Council voted unanimously against the ‘gating’ plans on September 3rd. They also have an online vote on their website, where you can register your views on the proposed barriers.

Mr Shoveller, of EMT, said: "I'm sorry for all the frustration this has caused, which was never our intention. We have listened to and worked with people concerned about the matter to develop solutions, and want to move on."

EMT have suggested giving residents and other people who regularly use the bridge ‘Smart Cards’, which would allow them 5minutes to pass through the station, as well as allowing elderly, disabled or people with young children free passage across the bridge without a smart card or ticket.

Out of the 100 questions and concerns raised by residents, EMT have only agreed to answer up to a maximum of 10. Member of the RASC Ellie Lockley, a student at Sheffield Hallam University, fears the technology is a “speculative idea that has not been fully thought through.”

She said: “If they have not got the capacity to think this proposal through to ensure it is workable before they install barriers they will not have the capacity to set up and maintain the pass system.

“Sheffield has far less crime than other comparative cities across England and if they want to reduce fare dodging then they should simply employ more ticket masters.”

Alice Carder