Nottingham City Council Leader Criticizes Temporary Rail Footbridge Closure

The leader of Nottingham City Council has voiced criticism regarding the temporary closure of a public footbridge located at Nottingham railway station. This footbridge, which links Station Street with Queen’s Road, saw its access to platforms one through six suspended on a trial basis during the previous month. East Midlands Railway (EMR) stated that the access restriction was implemented in an effort to reduce fare evasion, noting that a “minority of determined people” had been utilizing the bridge to avoid paying for travel. However, Neghat Khan, the leader of Nottingham City Council, described the closure as “crazy” and asserted that other railway passengers should not face inconvenience. She stated, “It’s disappointing that just because a few individuals decide to dodge paying for a ticket that everyone should suddenly see the impact”. Khan further added, “My inbox is full with people complaining, whether it’s businesses, residents, or taxi drivers about the inconvenience.” She also mentioned, “People have actually missed their trains because of this.” The trial closure has been in effect for slightly less than three weeks and is scheduled to conclude on November 17. An East Midlands Railway spokesperson commented, stating: “Platform access from the centre footbridge was closed as we have a duty to protect revenue – which is ultimately taxpayers’ money and fare-paying customer’s money.” The spokesperson further indicated that the company would be “reviewing all the feedback to understand its effectiveness.” Nevertheless, Ms Khan expressed her disappointment regarding the lack of consultation concerning these plans. She remarked, “Since I’ve been leader I’ve always spoken about partnership working and this clearly shows a lack of communication.” She also confirmed her intention to meet with EMR executives on Tuesday. The footbridge, which connects the aforementioned streets, continues to be designated as a public right of way, and individuals retain the ability to reach the tram stop situated on Station Street.