Halton Council has written to the government urging it to intervene over plans to axe train station ticket offices in Widnes and Runcorn.

Controversial proposals to close almost 1,000 national ticket offices were revealed earlier this month as part of cost-cutting measures. Industry body The Rail Delivery Group said only 12 per cent of tickets were now bought at ticket offices and staff would be redeployed. Both Widnes and Runcorn stations are on the hit-list, although Runcorn East has been given a reprieve. 

Cllr Mike Wharton voiced his concerns at a recent meeting of Full Council at Runcorn Town Hall, telling members the decision would 'impact the most vulnerable residents in Halton'. 

He said he had written on behalf of the council to the Secretary of State for Transport setting out the 'detrimental impact' of the proposals. In his letter, he wrote: "We believe that there is a considerable value to ticket offices which extends beyond ticket sales, such as offices providing face-to-face contact for rail enquiries and emergencies, which would otherwise not be addressed.

"Halton Borough Council is firmly of the view that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in Halton and support passenger safety, security and accessibility."

Addressing members at the meeting, Cllr Wharton (Labour) added: "The consultation is 21 days - absolute nonsense.

"I hope the Government really do listen to the public on this one, but as we know - it's not one of their qualities."

Cllr Dave Thompson, the council's deputy leader, told the meeting: "They're saying to us that it is only 12 per cent of tickets now being bought at ticket offices, but who is it that 12 per cent represents?

"They are the most vulnerable people in society, often disabled people. They are the people who are suffering here."

The move to close offices has been widely condemned, with five Labour regional mayors - including Steve Rotheram at the Liverpool City Region, of which Halton is a member - launching a joint legal challenge and claiming the proposals had been rushed through.

But backers of the plans say changing passenger habits means most tickets are now bought online or via apps, and that the closures will free up staff to walk platforms and provide face-to-face assistance instead.

A 21-day public consultation around changes to the majority of rail station ticket offices in England is being led by train companies and closes next Wednesday, July 26. Further details can be found here.