Sheffield City Council have rejected East Midlands Trains application to install ticket barriers at Sheffield train station.
A council planning board refused the company’s application for listed building consent on Monday, November 23, on the grounds that the barriers would have affected the “historic” appearance of the station.
The planning board was concerned that the proposed nine ticket gates would have affected the appearance of the station hall.
A council report stated: “The automatic ticket gates and the lighting, CCTV cameras and associated cabling will add to the visual clutter of modern additions and detract from the character and setting of the listed building.”
Many Sheffield residents and City Council members have protested against the application for barriers since East Midlands Trains first proposed introducing them earlier this year.
The company wanted to install the barriers to avoid passengers boarding trains without paying.
But members of the public were concerned that the barriers would prevent residents who live near the station crossing the bridge to access the city centre.
In February, more than 2,000 people took part in a poll which found that 95 per cent of local residents were against the plan to install barriers at Sheffield Station.
Before the plan was rejected, East Midlands Trains had suggested that they would supply passes to locals allowing them to cross the station bridge.
Councillor Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “I think it’s vital that the whole Council puts on record the result is thanks to the thousands of local people who backed the campaign against the barriers.
“Special thanks must go to Residents Against Station Closure (RASC) who have led the campaign from the front right from the beginning.”
RASC secretary Douglas Bell said: “We’re very pleased and I’d like to think this was a victory for the people of Sheffield.
“But while we are savouring the victory we remain poised and vigilant so we are ready to act if East Midlands Trains decides to put in an appeal.”
A spokeswoman for East Midlands Trains said: “We are clearly disappointed by the committee’s decision.
“We believe we put forward high quality plans, which support the crackdown on fare cheats and protect honest fare-paying passengers, as well as ensuring continued unhindered access for residents and providing additional enhancements to Sheffield Station.
“Whilst we take time to consider our options going forward, we will continue with the rolling programme of manual ticket checks which has been in operation at the station since May.”
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