Littleborough Railway Station ticket office: Council leader and chief exec to write to government and Northern over closure plans

The leader and chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council will be writing to the government and train operator Northern over the proposals to close Littleborough train station ticket office.

In a motion at the full council meeting on Wednesday 19 July, it was agreed that leader Neil Emmott and chief executive Steve Rumbelow would write the Secretary of State for Transport and Northern, detailing concerns of the council to the impact this will have on residents within the borough.

Councillor Tom Besford said the proposal would see the opening hours of Rochdale Railway Station ticket office reduced and Littleborough ticket office close altogether, adding that it will impact on countless older and vulnerable residents.

He said: “The government and private rail companies have announced that they’re decimating ticket offices across the country. This includes reducing hours in Rochdale and shutting the ticket office in Littleborough following a meagre 21 days of so-called ‘consultation’.

“This blanket raiding of our communities by an over-centralised London-centric blob demonstrates that places like Littleborough are little more than lines on a spreadsheet to be deleted.

“In 2022, according to public data, 56% of all tickets sold at Littleborough station were through the ticket office - a majority: anyone who knows Littleborough knows why.

“Littleborough is on the border of our combined authority: it's a hub for residents in both Calderdale and Greater Manchester. A ticket office clerk can sell you a rail card, a season ticket, privilege tickets, company-specific deals, explain routes, pricing and regional-specific offers and services; a machine can't do this.

“Our ticket office is in between two distance platforms meaning one clerk can service both platforms at the same time. You would need two of the new proposed on-platform ‘journey makers’ to make up for the loss of a ticket office.”

 

 

He continued: “Closing this service will disproportionately target those with access issues and other protected characteristics including those less technically able, those with visual impairments, those who struggle with reading and comprehension.

“There are no equality impact assessments available. Coupled with proposals to remove guards, the most vulnerable in our communities are now effectively being made unwelcome on our rail network.

“Getting people out of cars and onto public transport frees up road capacity and reduces emissions.

“Locally, we promote this through initiatives such as the Bee Network, the Active Travel network and the Littleborough station master plan, which seeks to improve our communities.

“The government and train operators are trying to take them apart piece by piece. This is yet another example of a failure to level up, yet another example of privatisation putting profits before people and our planet, yet another example of how our public services are being stripped bare.

“It needs to stop and I urge all members to support this motion.”

Leader of the local Conservative party, Councillor John Taylor said that the motion had “jumped the gun” as the impact on the community “could not be detailed” until they had been asked before responding in accordance.

He said that the motion “undermines and usurps the principles of engagement and empowerment,” claiming that doing so would state the council “already knows” residents’ views before saying the consultation should be allowed to run its course without interference.

 

 

He said: “The purpose of the consultation is to capture the views, opinions, comments and concerns of the community and yet here we are, just over halfway through the consultation period and this motion would have you believe this council has already determined the impact on residents without any consultation.

“This motion undermines and usurps the very principles of engagement and empowerment. It would have you believe this council already knows the outcome of the consultation process – it already knows who will be affected and how – in detail. The motion says they will write detailing the concerns of the council and the impact this will have on residents within the borough – they cannot do that – they do not know those details, they do not know the collective thoughts within this chamber, let alone across the wider community.

“We are in the middle of a period of consultation where our residents are encouraged to express their opinion, be it in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed closure of Littleborough ticket office and changes to opening hours at Rochdale – we, if anything, should to be encouraging people to engage with the process and seize their opportunity to make their feelings be known and their voice heard.

“The public consultation must be allowed to run its course without interference from the Chief Executive or anyone else acting on behalf of the council – all of our constituents are able to raise any concerns they have, including each of us and the rail companies must be able to respond and develop the best VFM services possible.”

Councillor Billy Sheerin disagreed, stressing it would hit residents who aren't computer literate, many of them older people. Councillors Liam O’Rourke and Janet Emsley added that the motion would ‘send a clear message that the council is supporting the campaign to save railway ticket offices and is speaking up on behalf of thousands of residents in the borough.’

In concluding the debate and supporting the motion, Councillor Shah Wazir said councillors are ‘speaking up on behalf of older and vulnerable residents.’

The motion was passed.

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What is being proposed?

The Rail Delivery Group has revealed proposals that would close all but the busiest station ticket offices. These would still sell a full range of tickets.

Northern has confirmed Rochdale Station’s ticket office is amongst those that will remain open – with reduced hours – but Littleborough’s would face closure with the station only being staffed on a part-time basis between 9am and 1pm from Monday to Saturday.

The Pennines station would be unstaffed on a Sunday.

To view the consultation, please visit Northern’s website: www.northernrailway.co.uk/consultation-2023

If you would like to comment on these proposals as part of this consultation please contact Transport Focus by 11.59pm on 28 July 2023 using the details:

• Email: ticketoffice.Northern@transportfocus.org.uk
• Freepost: RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ

If your response relates to a certain station please include the station name in your response.