Ticket inspectors stop people crossing bridge at Sheffield railway station as fresh row breaks out

The Liberal Democrat peer Paul Scriven said ticket inspectors were stopping people at the station on Monday, November 2, and asking to see their tickets.

He claimed it was a case of ‘no ticket, no way through’.

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In a tweet addressed to East Midlands Railway, which manages the station, he asked: “Why are you back to trying to stop people crossing the bridge in Sheffield Station again? I thought this nonsense stopped long ago.”

The train operator replied: “Revenue protection officers are checking tickets today but they let you across if you are passing over the bridge.”

However, Mr Scriven responded: “Well I wasn't allowed unless I showed my ticket.”

An East Midlands Railway spokesman said: “Our Revenue Protection Officers were at Sheffield Station yesterday checking tickets. The bridge at the station is a public right of way and no-one is stopped from using it as such.”

Public access to the footbridge, which is a major pedestrian route in and out of Sheffield city centre, has been a bone of contention in the past.

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Former operator East Midlands Trains (EMT) had applied to install ticket barriers at the station but its plans were refused by Sheffield Council back in 2009.

The Government later offered £3 million for a new public bridge over the station so ticket barriers could be installed, with EMT assuring people that no barriers would be introduced until such a bridge was completed.

Earlier this year, a £1.5 billion plan was announced to transform the area around the station, including the construction of a huge pedestrian bridge linking Park Hill with Howard Street.