Equalities watchdog 'share' Oldham MP’s concerns about ticket office closures

Greenfield train station and ticket office

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the country’s equalities watchdog, has written to Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams to confirm that they “share [her] concerns” about the impact of proposed ticket office closures on disabled and older people.

Ms Abrahams wrote to the watchdog earlier this month to raise concerns that there had been no equality impact assessment prior to the launch of consultation on the proposed decision to close ticket offices at railway stations, including at Greenfield station in her constituency. 

In response, the EHRC Chief Executive, Marcial Boo, wrote to Ms Abrahams and confirmed that they met with officials at the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail and Road to “remind them of their responsibilities to consider equality issues.”

Ms Abrahams’ original letter says that she is "extremely worried about the impact that these plans will have on both older and disabled constituents, and the tens of thousands across the country” because “the face-to-face support that staff at ticket offices offer is paramount for both disabled and older people to use our train system.

"For many, the offices also function as a place to seek assistance."

She highlighted the issues of moving towards as greater technology at stations because of the ‘digital exclusion’ that both disabled and older people face.

Ms Abrahams wrote “this is exactly the sort of exclusionary policy-making that must be stopped."

Ms Abrahams has been campaigning for many years to improve accessibility at Greenfield station, with passengers travelling towards Huddersfield and Leeds still having no step free access; similarly passengers with mobility issues travelling from Manchester to Greenfield have to go to via Marsden.  

As MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Ms Abrahams’ has focused on campaigns tackling inequalities, both locally and nationally, including the inequalities faced by disabled and older people.

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