In My View: Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood

Our local rail services are crucial for residents travelling to work, for parents and pupils travelling to and from school, to visit friends and family and for shopping and leisure.

Although our train services are important across the whole of Southwark and Lambeth, they are even more relevant in my constituency, which is only served by one Tube station.

In recent years, hundreds of residents have contacted both me and your local councillors about the Conservative Government’s cuts to train services from stations like North Dulwich, Herne Hill, East Dulwich, Gipsy Hill, Tulse Hill, West Dulwich, Sydenham Hill, Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill and Forest Hill.

Labour is committed to returning train services to democratic ownership.

The Conservatives have already had to bring Southeastern services back in-house following a financial scandal.

We know that the current fragmented arrangements are failing passengers who are paying higher fares for diminishing services year-by-year.

Now the Conservatives have approved plans to consult on the closure of almost every ticket office across both Southwark and Lambeth.

This will impact on all passengers, but it is older residents, those with disabilities and people looking for more complicated tickets and renewal of railcards who will be disproportionately affected by the Conservatives’ plans.

There is only a short time to act to ensure that our voices are heard on these proposals.

You can find further information on my website at helenhayes.org.uk or you can send an email of objection directly to southern.consultation@londontravelwatch.org.uk for Southern train services or to southeastern. consultation@londontravelwatch.org.uk for Southeastern train services.

Please do make your views known as we work to fight these damaging closures together.