Lib Dem candidateberates Boris for Barnet Northern Line ticket office cut plans (From Times Series)

Lib Dem candidateberates Boris for Barnet Northern Line ticket office cut plans

3:20pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

PLANS to slash ticket office hours at tube stations across Barnet have been attacked by a leading union.

The TSSA has branded Mayor of London Boris Johnson the “Hypocrite of the Year” after he campaigned on a platform of keeping ticket offices open.

Twelve stations on the northern Line through the borough face vastly reduced operating hours, with two, Mill Hill East and West Finchley, closing ticket offices altogether at weekends.

The plans could also see reduced staffing levels at stations, endangering jobs.

TSSA leader Gery Doherty said: “"He signed our petition in 2007 when Ken was planning cuts at 40 stations and he was elected on the promise to keep all stations open and fully staffed.

"Now here he is in 2010 planning cuts six times those planned by Ken who, incidentally, withdrew his plans in the face of campaigns.

"By cutting opening times by over 2,000 hours, Boris is giving the green light for anti social behaviour late at night on the tube and this will worry female passengers most of all.”

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hendon Matthew Harris also attacked the plans.

He told the Times Series: “It seems a poor use of Transport for London resources. They should prioritise spending in such a way as to ensure adequate staffing levels.

“They have money for Art and Philosophy on the Underground, would it not be better to spend money on staff rather than that?”