A petition has been launched against plans to permanently close the ticket office at Stevenage Railway Station.

The proposed closure, announced by the Rail Delivery Group, is part of a plan to close almost all remaining ticket offices across Hertfordshire - and England - within three years.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) says "the proposal aims to better support passengers by moving colleagues out from behind traditional ticket office windows onto station concourses where customers need them most, making them more visible and accessible".

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Jenny Saunders, customer services director for GTR, said: "The proposed changes reflect that the way customers buy tickets has changed significantly in recent years, with most people now buying online or from ticket machines. In fact, nine in 10 are now bought away from the traditional ticket office, and GTR has even fitted eticket readers across its network as so many customers now use digital tickets to travel.

"This is a real opportunity to modernise and improve the experience of our customers."

However, the plans have been met with widespread opposition, and the Stevenage Labour Party has started a petition against the proposal for Stevenage station.

"Make your voice heard in opposition to these shameful closures that put accessibility, safety and security at risk," said Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage.

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"The recent announcement about the closure of ticket offices at a thousand railway stations around the country is just the latest iteration of the ongoing removal of face-to-face services that people truly value."

She highlighted that it's being carried out with a minimal 21-day consultation period and in advance of a full impact assessment.

The Stevenage Labour Party's petition calls on the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, to save the ticket office at Stevenage train station.

"We strongly oppose the proposed closure of the Stevenage station ticket office," it says. "The closure would impact the ability to buy tickets, plan future journeys, receive advice and assistance, and navigate the station.

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"Having staff at a central, identified ticket office provides passengers with confidence to know where to go to access assistance, information and advice.

"If staffing levels were reduced, or existing ticket staff redeployed to multifunctional roles, this crucial point of contact would be lost.

"Multifunctional staff may be beyond the ticket barrier, therefore passengers would need to buy a ticket to access the service they require."

The petition also says closing the Stevenage station ticket office would "force" passengers to use ticket vending machines, and "many passengers will find this detrimental to their needs, including those who are elderly, disabled or have visual impairments".

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Finally, the petitions highlights safety and security. "Visible staff at the ticket office are critical to passengers’ safety and security, providing a point of contact which could offer immediate help during an emergency," it says.

Ms Saunders said: "It’s important to stress that no station that is staffed today would become unstaffed, and we would continue to provide accessibility support and assistance."

The public consultation runs until July 26. To have your say, email GNTL.Consultation@Londontravelwatch.org.uk.

To sign the petition, visit stevenagelabour.org/petition-save-stevenage-stations-ticket-office.