Local MP writes to Transport Minister with constituents’ Greenfield station concerns
Date published: 05 September 2023
Greenfield train station and ticket office
Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has written to Huw Merriman MP, Minister for Rail and HS2, to express the concern of her constituents about the proposed closure of the ticket office at Greenfield Station.
This follows Ms Abrahams' ‘call for evidence’ from her constituents.
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.
Since the recent plans to close ticket offices were first proposed, Ms Abrahams has been campaigning to save them.
This included a letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission Chief Executive Marcial Boo about the impact of the proposals on inequalities for disabled and older people.
Mr Boo responded to Ms Abrahams to confirm that he “shared [her] concerns” about this, and confirmed that he had met with the Government to reiterate the requirement to prevent discrimination under equality legislation.
Over the last few weeks, Ms Abrahams has been holding a ‘call for evidence,’ asking her Oldham East and Saddleworth constituents to contact her to share their experiences about what the potential impact of the ticket office closures would be for themselves and their families.
Following the call for evidence, Ms Abrahams has now written to the Transport Minister to share her constituents’ concerns and ask that the ticket office remains open.
The letter said “as a constituency MP, I am keen to hear the views of residents in Oldham East and Saddleworth about the closure of the ticket offices at Greenfield Station.
"That’s why I held a ‘call for evidence’ for my constituents to explain their experiences so that I can bring these to your attention ahead of the decision being made.”
Comments from constituents included: “I am hoping to explore the possibility of rail travel again and buy my first disabled person's railcard soon.
"Knowing there would be someone to speak to, book tickets and advise me on receiving assistance getting on and off the train and alternatives to getting off the train at Greenfield would be very reassuring.
"I am always a bit hesitant to use ticket machines and to not have a person around should I have any difficulties would further deter me from using the train at Greenfield."
Ms Abrahams said: “I would like to thank all my constituents who took part in the call for evidence about the closure of the ticket office at Greenfield Station.
"I am very grateful to them for sharing their first-hand experiences which has enhanced the strength of my case to the Government about keeping the ticket office open.
"The ball is now in the Minister’s court - he can either listen to my constituents and keep the ticket office open, or ignore them and continue to pursue this discriminatory and exclusionary policy.”
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