Figures released by East Midlands Trains show that, despite the clearance of most of Park Hill flats, the number of people walking over the controversial station bridge continues to increase, and is now 2400 a day. RASC campaigner Graham Wroe commented “These figures show that when EMT block the footbridge to people without tickets they are causing a major inconvenience to over 2400 people. Thankfully these ticket checks seem to have stopped- we hope this is because EMT have had a change of heart and seen the error of their ways.”
On Friday December 17th at 4.30 Residents Against Station Closure organised a Carol Sing at the station. The words of traditional Carols have been changed to remind EMT of the importance of the footbridge to pedestrians. See below for some of the lyrics, and see some video here.
Carols
We wish you a Merry Xmas
We wish you a Merry Xmas
We wish you a Merry Xmas
And a happy New Year
Good tidings we bring to all of our kin
Our bridge will be ours
And our campaign we will WIN
To the tune of Ding Dong Merrily on High
EMT you’ve got it wrong
The bridge is ours not your…ors
If you listen to this song
You’ll understand our cau…ause
Chorus:
Oooooooooooooooooooooooo EMT
Can’t you see
The harm th Oooooooooooooooooooooooo EMT
Can’t you see
The harm that you are doing?
at you are doing?
Sheffield Council made the deal
For transport integration
Midland Mainline signed and sealed
And all was jubilation
Chorus:
But you did not understand
That this meant public access
So you joyfully went and banned
Our right to cross the footbridge
Chorus:
In this season of good cheer
We hope you’ll change and never
Bar our way across our land
From this day and forever
To the tune in the Bleak mid winter
In the town of Sheffield
The tram, the train and the bus
Were linked with a footbridge
Which caused a lot of fuss
EMT think they own it
But we know that they don’t
Public money was spent
And give it up we wont
All this public money
Was used to build our bridge
Along came E-M-T
To make there users pay
People said don’t close the bridge
Put inspectors on the trains
We will keep our struggle
Till you make amends
EMT don’t mess with us,
Cos we are here to stay
We believe in transport links
Our campaign we’ll not let it sink
We will fight you tooth and nail
Till you see you’re wrong
Stop those barriers here and now
And agree the battle WON
To the tune of Good King Wenceslas number 2
Mary Wenceslas looked down
On the city centre
But she could not walk to town
EMT wouldn’t let her.
They said ‘use the Iron Bridge
Even in the dark night.
‘Very dangerous’ she said
‘It gives me a fright.’
Give me light and give me love.
Give me back my station.
All big power from above
Should protect the nation.
Put conductors on the trains
Is your obligation.
Even in the dead of night
We need to cross the station.
To the tune of Oh Xmas Tree ( The Red Flag)
Oh EMT Oh EMT
Our footbridge you are changing
Oh EMT Oh EMT
Your faults are so wide ranging
You want to block our right of way
But have no fear we’ll have our say
Oh EMT oh EMT
Your policies need changing.
East Midlands Trains, East Midlands Trains
You really are appalling
East Midlands Trains, East Midlands Trains
Your image it is falling.
Make sure your service it is good
Respect the public like you should
East Midlands Trains, East Midlands Trains
Can’t you hear us calling.
To the Tune of We Three Kings
We the people of Sheffield Unite
We the people have the to fight
For our right to cross the bri- i-dge
With safety and in light ….oh
CHORUS
Save our Bridge Save our right
Make us safe in the night
EMT must listen to us
Save our bridge,Save our right
All the parties believe it is right
School children, students, have joined the fight
But old EMT (ee) won’t back down
Throwing around their masterly might ….oh
CHORUS
Save our Bridge Save our right
Make us safe in the night
EMT must listen to us
Save our bridge,Save our right
Carrying on against this gloom
We won’t accept this incredible doom
Laughing, shouting crying and waving
We will win very soon ….oh
CHORUS
Put-ting people first in the frame
EMT are playing a game
We won’t give up now or never
Don’t do this in our name ………..oh