Brent ticket office closures create concerns for passenger safety

Lib Dem London Assembly Leader Caroline Pidgeon has joined Brent Liberal Democrats in lobbying the Mayor about his proposed cuts to ticket office staffing at Tube stations in Brent - which has more underground stations than any borough other than Westminster.

Earlier in the year Liberal Democrats reacted to the news regarding which tube ticket offices were to shut or reduce opening hours with a vow to fight the proposals. Now more detail has emerged regarding the Brent stations which are on the Mayor's hit list.

Following a question to the Mayor from Caroline Pidgeon, it was revealed that the Bakerloo, Met line, Jubilee line and the Piccadilly line will all be affected by reduced opening hours and staffing levels for their ticket offices. Across Brent there will be a reduction of 10 station staff during peak hours, with Wembley Stadium’s nearest station – Wembley Park – especially hit. Liberal Democrats are concerned that reducing staff will lead to confusion and difficulties in the future when many visitors come to the area for the Olympics in just 22 months time.

Caroline and Brent Lib Dems are pressing the Mayor to reconsider these changes, citing concerns of residents over the safety of unmanned tube stations and potential issues for parents travelling with children who rely on Station staff to open the gates for the children.

Speaking about the Mayor’s proposals, Cllr Daniel Brown, Brent Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson, said:
“Tory Mayor Boris Johnson put huge increases on the cost of using the Tube this year and now he’s cutting back the service we get. It’s bad enough that people who live and work in Brent have to suffer constant tube line closures at the weekend but now the news that so many tube stations will have a reduced service will understandably worry many residents, especially parents with children together with the elderly and disabled. With the Olympics coming up soon and the prospect of a lot of visitors to Brent, I really think this is short-sighted of Boris and may reflect badly on London during the Olympics.”