Fight to keep station bridge open turns supernatural

Campaign group Residents Against Station Closure will be outside the station from 5.30pm on Monday to inform the public of the current situation with the footbridge.

A spokesman for the group said: “After the party the ghosts, witches, demons and partygoers will march across the station to Sheaf Valley Park to enjoy a mug of hot pumpkin soup. All are welcome.”

The ongoing row over the installation of ticket barriers at the railway station, which would prevent non-passengers from using the station footbridge, was raised in Parliament earlier this month.

Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield has called for a full parliamentary debate to be held on keeping the footbridge open, after Transport Secretary Philip Hammond wrote a letter indicating that barriers would be the “only way” to prevent fare dodgers.

The footbridge is the main pedestrian route into Sheffield city centre for people living at Norfolk Park and Park Hill. It also links the city centre with a Supertram stop and the newly-opened park and amphitheatre.

Back in November 2009, Sheffield Council rejected plans for the ticket barriers on the ground that they would affect the character of the railway station, a Grade II-listed building.

The authority is now looking at making the footbridge a public right of way, in order to protect the pedestrian route through the railway station.