Reconsider axing our rail ticket offices

The proposed mass closure of rail ticket offices in England will have a hugely detrimental impact on blind and partially sighted people’s ability to buy tickets, arrange assistance, and critically travel independently.

Ticket offices are not just about selling tickets.

They provide a reliable first point of contact for many kinds of staff assistance such as arranging sighted guidance through the station and safely on to the train to advising on any changes to their journey that may be required.

I have sight loss, and I cannot use the touch screen ticket machines that rely on the customer being able to see the screen.

If the ticket offices close, I will not be able to travel independently.

The government claims it wants to “bring staff out from behind the glass” but in truth it risks leaving blind and partially sighted people behind a new barrier.

Modernisation of our railways shouldn’t be a by-phrase for apps and touchscreens; modernisation should mean building a rail network that takes into account everyone’s needs and doesn’t leave anyone behind.

I urge Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper to rethink these proposals.

Steve Hyde,

Regional Campaigns Officer, South West (Royal National Institute of Blind People),

Address supplied

Don't forget about old postage stamps

Many of your readers will have seen that postage stamps are changing.

From August 1, the ‘everyday’ stamps showing the Queen’s head on a plain coloured background will only be valid if they have a unique barcode on the right-hand side.

From that date, using the old, non-barcoded stamps will result in a surcharge for the person you send the item to.

I encourage people to use-up any stamps they have in wallets or purses before July 31.

Customers who cannot use any non-barcoded stamps before then will still be able to swap them for new barcoded stamps through Royal Mail’s simple and free Swap Out scheme.

A leaflet with a form was delivered to every household, but customers can also print one out from our website, call our customer experience team to order one, or pick one up at a Royal Mail delivery office or Post Office.

Non-barcoded Christmas and other special stamps with pictures on continue to be valid for postage.

Nick Landon,

Chief Commercial Officer,

Royal Mail

Help support kidney disease charity

The Royal Mail has been introducing new stamps with barcodes which means that regular stamps that do not have a barcode will no longer be valid.

But I wanted to let your readers know that they can donate them to charity to help raise money for people with chronic kidney disease.

This disease affects 10 per cent of the population, meaning that as many as 72,006 people are affected in Wiltshire alone.

At Kidney Care UK, we collect used (and unused) stamps and turn them into cash donations.

In March this year we received the highest number of requests for financial support that the charity has ever known in over 40 years.

If your readers would like to help, all they need to do is to pop their used or unused non-barcoded stamps in an envelope and send them to: Kidney Care UK - Stamps and coins appeal 2023, 3 The Windmills, St Mary's Close, Alton, GU34 1EF.

Thank you.

Laura Toop, Kidney Care UK,

Address supplied