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Stalemate on train station barriers plan
RESIDENTS opposed to plans to close Sheffield station to people without tickets have met rail bosses – but say the meeting proved a stalemate.
Residents Against Station Closure met management of East Midlands Trains for two hours last week to discuss their plan to install ticket barriers that would prevent anyone without a valid rail ticket walking over the footbridges and accessing the platforms.
The rail firm says it is trying to prevent fare dodgers from freely wandering onto platforms, but residents say it will deprive them of a key route into the city centre.
Spokesperson Graham Wroe said: "There was some talk of enabling local residents to walk through and EMT suggested the possibility of developing a token or pass system for residents.
"But when informed that there are 70,000 residents in the Central Constituency alone there was no response. EMT were unable to define the meaning of local resident.
"EMT insisted that this was consultation and they wanted to listen to local views but despite the total rejection of ticket barriers they had nothing else to offer."
The campaigners say the rail firm plans to install 13 barriers in the front hall, ending all free movement through the station, including people meeting passengers from trains. They also fear wheelchair users would be unable to get through the barriers.
Emma Knight, EMT's head of stakeholder management, said: "As one of the East Midlands Trains representatives at the meeting, I found the meeting very positive and we were all grateful for the opportunity to hear everybody's views and ideas – some of which were practical, others not.
"Gates are still the preferred option at Sheffield station. However our consultation with stakeholders, which includes the local residents, is still ongoing and we remain open to reasonable suggestions."
She said the company's aim was to try to meet the needs of all stations users, and not to block the station for wheelchair users.
She said: "We will be holding a further two meetings so that we can engage with a wider group of people and no final decisions will be made until these consultation meetings have concluded. Therefore we feel it is inappropriate for anybody to speculate on the final details of this project at this time."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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