Campaigners aiming to keep ticket offices open have urged people to make their voices heard while they still can.

Ticket offices across Bolton have been threatened with closure as part of a series of sweeping cuts set to be made all across the country.

Kirith Entwistle, who has supported the campaign to keep Bromley Cross ticket office open, says this could have a huge impact on passengers.

She said: “First of all, what ticket offices provide is reassurance to people who really rely on the train station to get around.

“Bromley Cross is a station that’s used quite a lot to get people in and out of Manchester.”

The Bolton News: Ms Entwistle has urged people to get behind the campaingMs Entwistle has urged people to get behind the campaing (Image: Public)

She added: “As we know, often machines don’t work and people, particularly elderly or disabled people, aren’t always confident booking tickets online.”

Bromley Cross, Farnworth and Lostock Parkway ticket offices are all facing the axe according to plans announced by the Railway Delivery Group last July, while the office at Bolton Station will reduce its opening hours.

But the proposed move sparked a significant backlash both in Bolton and further afield.

The Bolton Pensioners Association launched a petition to keep the offices open almost immediately after the plans were announced.

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Earlier in August, Bromley Cross’s three Conservative councillors, Cllr Nadim Muslim, Cllr Samantha Connor and Cllr Amy Cowan, all urged people to support the campaign to keep their office open.

Ms Entwistle, Labour’s candidate for Bolton North East, says the threatened closure speaks to a wider lack of concern for older or disabled people.

She said: “We’re seeing a lot of services moving online now and I think that puts a lot of people at a disadvantage.”

The public consultation on ticket office closures is still open, having been extended to September 1 and can be found online at the consultation 2023 section of Northern’s website.