Keighley and Ilkley’s MP Robbie Moore has called on residents and local commenters to make their concerns known about the planned closure of local train station ticket offices at Keighley and Ilkley Train Stations ahead of Northern’s public consultation deadline on Friday, 1 September.
Mr Moore says he wants to see the community “send a strong message to Northern that these closures are not in the best interest of our community”, and has sent a joint letter to Nick Donovan, Managing Director at Northern and the Secretary of State for Transport Rt. Hon Mark Harper MP outlining his opposition to the proposed closures.
The call to action comes after the local MP told Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP that he was “yet to be convinced that these changes will have a positive impact on disabled passengers, elderly passengers or those with accessibility issues”, speaking in the House of Commons chamber the day the announcement was made.
The MP pointed to recent statistics which show that more than 1 in 6 passengers in Keighley and Ilkley use ticket offices to purchase tickets, well above the national average.
Transport group Transport Focus will assess the consultation responses during a 35 day period, working with train operators, and if an agreement cannot be reached regarding closures, the issue will then go directly to the Secretary of State for Transport.
Residents can participate in the consultation process and submit their objections to Northern's plans before the deadline of Friday September 1st by emailing [email protected] or visiting https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/ticket-office-consultation/.
Objections can also be mailed to RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ, by September 1st.
Robbie Moore MP said:
“Closing our ticket offices at Keighley and Ilkley Train Stations will erode a vital service provision and have a severe negative impact on those in our community who rely on their service to get around, including disabled passengers, elderly passengers, or those with accessibility issues. I have written to the Managing Director of Northern and our Transport Secretary to outline my deep objections to these closure plans, as well as previously raising my concerns in the House of Commons Chamber directly with the Rail Minister.
As we near the consultation deadline, I urge all residents who haven't yet submitted their responses to do so before the closing date of the 1st September. Every voice matters, and by expressing our collective opposition, we can send a strong message to Northern that these closures are not in the best interest of our community.”
