The six members of a city planning board unanimously voted to reject the scheme after receiving nearly 1,250 objections - and slammed the station operator for pursuing the plans despite such overwhelming opposition.

Stagecoach, which owns East Midlands Trains, applied to install barriers to improve security and stop fare dodging but faced a massive groundswell of protest when the plans were announced in 2008.

Protesters were angry the barriers would prevent residents from using the station footbridge as a route between the city centre and Norfolk Park. Planning officer Lucy Bond told members of the city centre, south and east planning board they had to focus their decision on the impact on the listed building alone.

She advised them the stainless steel and glass gates proposed could be considered a detriment to the station's character.

Architect Simon Gedye, chair of Sheffield Civic Trust, told the board the barriers would ruin "a fine example of Victorian public architecture, used by a huge number of people each day as the gateway to our city".

He praised the "special quality of the glass roof and the stone detailing" and said the plans would be an architectural "setback".

Three disabled Sheffield residents said the plans would make it extremely difficult for fellow disabled people - who make up between 18 and 25 per cent of the local population - to use the station because most of the barriers are not wide enough for wheelchairs and almost impossible for blind people to use independently.

Wheelchair user Michelle Turner said without access to the station footbridge it would take her an extra 30 minutes to cross the railway line into town.

Coun Peter Price, voting against the proposal, said: "I am appalled and horrified that Stagecoach have ploughed on with this application and chosen to ignore a community that have almost unanimously opposed the plans.

"A lot of thought and money went into developing what is one of the most successfully regenerated stations in the country, and we must protect and treasure that." Coun Tim Rippon said: "It beggars belief that this organisation has continued with this application. I can only hope that Stagecoach go away and stick to running trains and that this application doesn't come back to this area planning board again."
East Midland Trains did not make a representation to the board but head of stations Arthur Pretorius, told The Star later: "This was meant to be decided on the grounds that the station is a listed building, and I heard very little that supported a refusal.
"We aren't trying to stop public access, but we have a franchise obligation to stop fare dodging."
Geraldine Roberts, of the Residents against Station Closure group, said: "I am extremely pleased about this decision, and hope East Midland Trains rethink their approach. If they are serious about collaboration with the community they should make sure this application doesn't come back again."
Council leader Paul Scriven said: "I'm proud of the local Sheffielders who have fought this every step of the way. It seems the only people who believe this closure is a good idea are East Midlands Trains. People are justifiably outraged at the idea that our footbridge - paid for with £15 million of taxpayers' money - could be shut off by a private company for the purposes of profit."
"It shouldn't be rocket science to find a solution that stops fare dodgers without cutting our city in two."
Labour group leader Coun Jan Wilson said: "What a victory for democracy. Well done to all those campaigners that kept on the pressure for a result that will be universally welcomed."

Got a view? Leave your comment below.

Buy The Star - Monday to Saturday - for local news, sport, features and ads. To subscribe CLICK HERE

READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport