Protests planned as Train Barrier idea causes fears of a Divided City

By Liam Bend

Protesters will be out in force over the coming weeks as Sheffield council leader Paul Scriven calls for the city residents to unite in the campaign against the introduction of train barriers.

March's are planned throughout the city centre to oppose the installation of the community breaking policy in the near future as the idea would prevent pedestrians walking through the station without a ticket.

Campaigners want the area to stay ticket barrier free so locals from Park Hill and Norfolk Park are able to access the city centre via the route through the station, though East Midland Trains argue are huge financial loses daily due to ticket dodging, especially in this recession stuck period.

Coun Scriven “Restrictions on the use of the footbridge will have a negative effect on Sheffield . So many people have expressed feelings of unrest at the idea and we must now make sure we stand up so East Midland trains will take notice.”

“Every person at the protest is going to be critical, the more people attend then the more East Midland trains are going to listen to us.”

Geraldine Roberts has been a resident at Park Hill for 30 years and is the organiser of the protests since she uses the footbridge everyday for her job based in the city centre;

“I feel something has to be done to prevent this city becoming separated into two parts, that can’t be a good thing for its future.”

Coincidently the same level of concern is illustrated by students who live in the suburbs to the east of the city, Steven Phillips a geography student who is based at Sheffield Hallam’s city campus believes the barriers would cause major disruption;

“Cutting off our part of the city has no logic behind it as high population of students are location in these places due to the University being a short walk away, this could change to possibly 45 minutes trip.”

The backlash on the barriers can only be concluded by high profile rock star Jon McClure, front man of Sheffield band Reverend and the Makers, opinions against the plan;

“know that gating would cut off the community who live on the other side of the railway from the city centre. In particular it would pose difficulties for wheelchair users and for baby buggy users as East Midland Trains seem to be giving priority to income generation over social needs."

East Midland trains are currently looking at methods that interact with both their ticketing policy and local residents but “people power” can change all that. Come on Sheffield!!