Ken Hawkins

This issue came before us at Solihull Council this evening via a motion for debate.

I proposed an amendment to the motion, believing my amendment was stronger and forceful. I have pasted the motion below:

Amendment to Motion

 

Council notes with concern the announcement by the Rail Delivery Group that on behalf of train companies that they may be are pressing ahead with plans to close up to 1000 rail ticket offices across England over the next 3 years, despite representations made by councils such as Solihull, Council Leaders, Mayor Andy Street, bodies such as TfWM, WMRE, user groups and MPs.

Council believes that there needs to be a modernisation of station retailing and customer support, but that ticket offices currently provide a vital service to residents in Solihull. Having a clearly sign-posted place in the station for people with ticket enquiries provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff.

Not all residents are able to use station ticket machines or have the means to book a ticket in advance. Complicated journeys involving connections are likely to require human assistance to ensure customers purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties or pay more than necessary for their journey.

Council is concerned that the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect elderly and disabled residents in Solihull – as well as those with limited poor literacy and IT skills.

Council notes the statistics from Age UK that 3 million elderly people in the UK do not have access to the internet, and statistics from the Royal National Institute for Blind People that only 3% of those with partial or full sight loss feel able to use ticket machines.

Council is also concerned about the possible implications for current station staff, that there is insufficient information overall, for example as to how passengers with mobility issues, disabilities and sight deficiencies and other impairments would be catered for; that different approaches to ticket office provision set out by the various train operators might lead to an inconsistent approach across the region and create possible confusion for travellers.

Council notes there is insufficient information as to how often mobile ticket teams would visit each station or whether there would be dedicated hours when staff were available and is concerned that in future there will be insufficient alternative ticket purchasing options and that this, combined with the complicated ticket offer, means many more people will travel without tickets. It believes this consultation was insufficient and due to the gravity of the proposals a more substantial consultation should have taken place.

Any changes to ticketing must be for the benefit of passengers, but Council believes there is insufficient information in these proposals to satisfy that crucial requirement.

Council supports the representations already submitted by the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure & Environment and therefore resolves to:

· Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to Mark Harper MP Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, expressing Council’s opposition to the current proposals for possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices – and in particular the offices affected in the borough

· Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast and Chiltern Railways expressing the Council’s opposition to current proposals to close the staffed ticket offices at any Solihull station.

·       Refer this issue to the Economic Development and Managed Growth Scrutiny Board at the appropriate time with the recommendation that representatives from Avanti West Coast and Chiltern Railways are invited to attend a Scrutiny Meeting at the earliest possible point to discuss future plans for ticket offices and staffing at all Solihull stations.