East Midland Trains are still planning to go ahead with installing barriers at Sheffield Station this March. We need to show them that we wont let them get away with stealing our safe, disabled access, well lit pedestrian route to town.There will be speeches from politicians and activists and music. Bring a banner/something to make lots of noise with.

The Background

We are a pressure group uniting a wide range of groups, individuals, organisations and communities, in a campaign to stop East Midlands Trains installing barriers at Sheffield Station. Ticket barriers will prevent many people walking through the station to gain access to the city centre or the tram stop which is at the back of the station.

Why do we oppose it?

Sheffield is proud of the station and the region has spent £50 million on the award-winning refurbishment of the station and the immediate vicinity. The resulting refurbishment is described as a world class gateway to the city.

The footbridge links communities and organisations on both sides of the station. It is one of the few truly integrated transport networks in the area uniting as is does, the tram stop, the station and the Sheffield Interchange. The bridge is particularly important for wheel chair and push chair users as the only alternative bridge is completely inaccessible, so a very large diversion would be required.

The link through the station is also central to the City regeneration strategy as it provides a direct route for future occupants of the massive Park Hill scheme to access the Golden Route into the city centre.

On 3rd September Sheffield City Council voted unanimously on two motions opposing the “gating” scheme.

A wide variety of people use the footbridge everyday including

* Staff and Students at Castle centre of the Sheffield College
* Staff and Students at Sheffield Hallam University
* Sheffield Wild Life Trust
* Staff working on the Park Hill development
* Staff and pupils at All Saints school and a number of other primary schools in the immediate vicinity
* The thousands of people who live in the communities "behind" the station.

All these groups would be prevented from using the award-winning listed building, which the city has spent millions of pounds to refurbish. The bridge is particularly important for wheelchair and pushchair users, as the only alternative bridge is completely inaccessible, so a very large diversion would be required.

East Midlands Trains argue there are no alternatives to installing ticket barriers.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP???

Express your opinion via Sheffield Council's on-line form

 http://www.forms.sheffield.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=YVeez18G3LQ

Join our mailing list and organisation: www.rasc-sheffield.com

Write to press: the following have been interested in the past:

- David Walsh at the Sheffield Star
Email:  david.walsh@sheffieldnewspapers.co.uk

- Sim Harris - Editor of Rail Management
Email:  sim.harris@keepingtrack.co.uk

- Katie Sylvester - Editor of Rail Professional
Email:  katie.silvester@railpro.co.uk www.railpro.co.uk

- Radio Sheffield 2675440 News Desk , Wendy Middleton and Jill Orwin have both been following this issue.

- Complain directly to the Managing Director of East Midlands Trains
Email:  tim.shoveller@eastmidlandstrains.co.uk

All of the Sheffield MPs are united in opposition to the proposal;

- Richard Caborn Email:  cabornr@parliament.uk

- Meg Munn Email:  munnm@parliament.uk

- Angela Smith Email:  smithac@parliament.uk

- David Blunkett: 4th floor, Palatine Chambers, Pinstone Street, S1 2HN

- Nick Clegg Email:  nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk