Northwich MP Mike Amesbury has launched a petition to save the ticket office at the town's railway station, amid fears it could close as part of national shake-up.

This week the government announced a 21-day consultation on plans to shutter 1,000 ticket offices. It said the move was due to changing consumer habits with passengers now likely to buy their tickets online or on apps, or from automated machines. It said the changes would free up staff for more customer facing roles at stations.

If approved, the plan would see virtually every ticket office in the country close, with the exception of a few larger stations.

Labour MP for Weaver Vale Mike Amesbury said he feared the closures would have a detrimental impact on passengers, especially the vulnerable who rely on support from a staff member.

He said: “I’m asking people to sign my petition calling on Government to scrap the proposed closure of 1,000 railway station ticket offices across England including at Northwich.

“There’s no thought for passengers who are older, disabled or need more assistance, especially at a station that already has well known accessibility problems like low platforms and no step -free access to the far platform.

“This plan could potentially leave people cut off and isolated when public transport should be for everyone and it does nothing to encourage travellers to leave their car at home given the climate emergency. It’s not acceptable. I’m asking people to join me in fighting against this.”

Mr Amesbury said many passengers would be against a ‘dehumanised’ service.

He added: “We’ve all wished for a human-being when experiencing frustrations around touch screen ticketing technology.

“And let’s not forget it was the ticket office staff member who alerted an oncoming train of debris on the track when the station collapsed.

“You’ve now got the ridiculous situation whereby the station is being rebuilt but won’t include a ticket office. There’s talk of having ‘Journey Maker’ staff to support customers but I’m not convinced that will be sustained given this is all about saving money.

“Having that physical presence provides safety and reassurance for passengers as well as advice and help.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson, said: "These industry-led consultations are about enhancing the role of station workers and getting staff out from behind ticket office screens and into more active, customer-facing roles that will allow them to better support all passengers.

"This is not about cutting jobs - no station which is currently staffed will be unstaffed as a result of these proposed reforms. We have been consistently honest about the need for our railways to modernise if they are going to survive. Reviewing the role of ticket offices – with the least busy selling only one ticket an hour – is a crucial part of this."

The petition can be viewed here.

Views are being sought on the plans can can be submitted via email at  ticketoffice.Northern@transportfocus.org.uk or in writing to (no stamp needed): RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ.