Lib Dem Leader Opposes Station Barrier Application

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 18th Sep 2009

Cllr Paul Scriven (left) campaigning against the barriers with other local Lib Dems

Today Sheffield City Council received a listed building application to install ticket barriers at Sheffield Station from East Midland Trains. Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, said "I have been against the idea of installing barriers at our station from the beginning. In fact only recently I was making the case against to the Rail Minister when he visited. However, it looks like the Government will continue to refuse to intervene so this could be our only chance to stop the barriers.

"Although this decision is not about the wider issue and can only consider the potential impact on a listed building, I believe that there are grounds for the application to be refused.

"Plans to install ticket barriers at York were halted as they couldn't get listed building consent due to the impact on the aesthetics of the building. I believe that the same should apply in Sheffield and I'll be making that clear in my objection."