Save our ticket offices - Westminster Liberal Democrats call for opening hours to be protected (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

Save our ticket offices - Westminster Liberal Democrats call for opening hours to be protected

September 1, 2010 11:55 PM

London Undergound Tube station sign Westminster Liberal Democrats are calling for local people to back their campaign to protect ticket office opening hours at all Underground stations.

Under proposals put forward by Boris Johnson, the Conservative Mayor of London, ticket office opening hours at all but one of Westminster's Underground stations will be slashed.

The worst affected will be Charing Cross, Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue, all losing more than 70 hours a week.

Westminster Liberal Democrats are warning that cuts to opening hours particularly affect the elderly and the disabled.

Simon Dodd, a local Liberal Democrat campaigner, says: 'Without ticket offices for support, many vulnerable people could simply stop using London's Underground network altogether.

"When elected, Boris Johnson promised local people that he would protect ticket offices. He must honour that pledge to local people."

Notes:

1. Supporters are signing an online petition at http://www.ourcampaign.org.uk/saveourticketoffices

2. Nine out of ten London Underground stations will be affected by Boris Johnson's proposals. In Westminster, 33 of its 34 ticket offices will see opening hours slashed.

3. Ticket offices will be closed for 7,458 hours more each week, across the whole network. In Westminster alone, ticket offices will be closed for an additional 823 hours each week.

4. Twelve stations in Westminster will have ticket office opening times cut by 25 hours or more per week (Baker Street, Bayswater, Charing Cross, Great Portland Street, Maida Vale, Pimlico, St John's Wood, St James' Park, Temple, Warwick Avenue, Westbourne Park and Westminster).