Local Liberal Democrats have stepped up the pressure on the Conservative Mayor of London to scrap his plans to reduce the hours ticket offices in Epping Forest are open.

Buckhurst Hill, Debden, Loughton and Epping underground stations are all affected by the cull.  The decision by Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson means that the ticket offices will open later and close earlier, with some only opening for an hour at weekends.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Councillor Ann Haigh has launched a petition to keep the ticket offices open.

Councillor Ann Haigh said: “Residents of Epping Forest are once again feeling the effect of a Conservative they did not elect.

The Mayor's proposals will inconvenience residents of Epping Forest, will make many passengers feel unsafe and can only mean a reduction in the assistance available to passengers, particularly the elderly and disabled

We have already lost the ticket offices at the Chigwell stations, then we are informed that vital upgrade work on our stations have been pushed back, now we have to deal with reduced opening times of the ticket offices.  When will the cuts stop?”