West Dunbartonshire Councillors are urging residents to oppose Scotrail’s plans to close Clydebank ticket office and adjust the opening hours of six other kiosks.
It comes after Scotrail launched a three week consultation regarding its proposals to reduce the number of train station ticket offices and opening hours at Clydebank, Singer, Dalmuir, Alexandria, Balloch, Dumbarton Central, and Dalreoch.
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An emergency full council meeting was held on Monday afternoon where members agreed to ask the public to complete the consultation and oppose these proposals.
A motion produced by the Labour group with an addendum added by the SNP agreed that the council should note and publicise a petition that has been created by local campaigners against these cuts with members of the public are encouraged to support the petition to protect the services.
The council agrees that the Chief Executive should make formal representation to ScotRail's Chief Executive and the Scottish Government's Minister for Transport reaffirming West Dunbartonshire Council's opposition to the ticket office and opening hours reductions in West Dunbartonshire.
Labour councillor Douglas McAlister said: “The Scotrail consultation exercise concludes on Wednesday this week.
“Their proposal seeks to change the operating times of the 120 of 143 stations. They say that no member of staff will lose their job but three ticket offices will close completely including Clydebank.
“Obviously it's not just about buying tickets, we all know tickets can be bought online. Staff play a vital role in reducing criminal and anti - social behaviour at our stations, in giving passengers assistance and advice.
“A staffed station is a safe station. A closed ticket office is a closed station and therefore an unsafe place for our old, young, women and vulnerable people - in fact for all people."
Members also agreed that a 21 day consultation on such a major change to services is not enough and called on Scotrail to extend their consultation.
Council Leader councillor Jonathon McColl added: “Scotrail need to ask the people what they need when they are thinking about redesigning services and not just come forward with proposals based on outdated ticket sales and a three week consultation.
“My understanding is that the figures in the consultation are based on pre-pandemic data going back to 2019. Clydebank’s closure proposals are ridiculous but these proposals affect all eight of our stations.”
“Scotrail must think again about these proposals and scrap them.”
