Government closing ticket offices at Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington and Rectory Road rail stations

A report released by the Government has proposed closing down ticket offices at our local overground stations: Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill, Rectory Road, Homerton and Hackney Wick are all at risk of being shut down, with staff cuts at Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Central and Clapton also recommended.

Many local people are concerned that closures will result in increased crime and anxiety at the stations. Local resident Annie Green explained "unmanned stations become much less accessible to vulnerable people, be it those who need advice or information, those with special needs or disabilities, or those who feel unsafe being alone there". She continued "if these changes go ahead then I would be reluctant to use the stations outside of rush hour".

There are some who argue that the cuts make sense, and are a practical way of saving on station expenditure. One resident of N16, who wishes not to be named, claimed "the staff aren't any use anyway – either for making people feel safe, or for good, helpful customer service. In a time when cuts need to made in such big ways we have to be realistic: it's sad that people's jobs may have to go, but it would be more economical and just as reassuring if money was spent on lighting the stations up better and stopping them from being inviting to dodgy characters".

There will be a meeting for those against the closures tomorrow evening, Monday 12th December at 6.30pm, at the Old Fire Station, Leswin Road. Attendees will include a spokesperson from Abellio (the train operator replacing National Express in 2012), local Greater London Assembly member, TSSA rail union representatives, members of the Green Party and of Hackney Disability Backup. A spokesperson for Together for Transport – the organisation behind the campaign – urged people to attend the meeting, explaining "This public meeting will be a chance to show how bad this move would be for Hackney, and plan a community response".

Photo courtesy of OliverN5 at Flickr