Permission from the government. that has not been granted. we know that we could move this forward. the announcement this week of massive cuts to station staff has exacerbated the problems. the rmt opposes plans to close hundreds of ticket offices around england. the industry and ministers argue staff would assist passengers around the station and insist they re listening to disability groups concerns about the proposals. 100,000 people have already responded to a public consultation, which closes on wednesday. the next train strikes are this saturday and next saturday, with action on the london underground also due next week. katy austin, bbc news. a lovely development for you now. a rare plant at the university of leicester s botanic garden, has finally bloomed again much to the delight of fans who have been waiting a very long time for it to happen. yes, the agave succulent plant last flowered in 1998 25 years ago, as
Rise of 5%, followed by 4% this year, all in exchange for changes to ways of working. it s a really strong offer made in a climate where we know that there are challenges in terms of new lower passenger numbers during covid and, ultimately, it s taxpayers that will foot the bill if we increase an offer to the union. the rmt rejected the latest proposals back in april. there are conditions in this offer that we can t live with. whenever they want to come to the table, they have to get permission from the government. that has not been granted. we know that we could move this forward. the announcement this week of massive cuts to station staff has exacerbated the problems. the rmt opposes plans to close hundreds of ticket offices around england. the industry and ministers argue staff would assist passengers around the station and insist they re listening to disability groups concerns about the proposals. 100,000 people have already responded to a public consultation, which closes on wednesday.
There are conditions in this offer that we can t live with. whenever they want to come to the table, they have to get permission from the government. that has not been granted. we know that we could move this forward. the announcement this week of massive cuts to station staff has exacerbated the problems. the rmt opposes plans to close hundreds of ticket offices around england. the industry and ministers argue staff would assist passengers around the station and insist they re listening to disability groups concerns about the proposals. 100,000 people have already responded to a public consultation, which closes on wednesday. the next train strikes are this saturday and next saturday, with action on the london underground also due next week. katy austin, bbc news. let s speak to our business correspondent, ben king. this is the 31st day of strike action here in the uk in the dispute
Nowhere else to go. or hard of hearing people, there is nowhere else to go. other disability urou -s nowhere else to go. other disability arou -s fear nowhere else to go. other disability groups fear if nowhere else to go. other disability groups fear if stations nowhere else to go. other disability groups fear if stations are nowhere else to go. other disability groups fear if stations are not i nowhere else to go. other disability groups fear if stations are not man, j groups fear if stations are not man, it could put on vulnerable people and travelling. the rail delivery group which represents train operating companies say more passengers than ever are buying their tickets online. their tickets online. these proposals their tickets online. these proposals are their tickets online. these proposals are all- their tickets online. these proposals are all about i their tickets online. these i proposals are all about moving people who currently sit behind a glass window in a ticket office, out onto the station concourse so they can better meet the needs. the consultation can better meet the needs. the consultation over can better meet the needs. the consultation over ticket office changes is already under way and all passengers are being urged to take part. you re live with bbc news.
From the rail delivery group, which represents train companies, to close nearly all ticket offices in england over the next three years. around three in five stations has a ticket office. many are increasingly underused, which is driving this decision. in 1995, that s nearly 30 years ago, the vast majority of tickets, around 85%, were sold over the counter. that number has plummeted to an average of i2%. most are now bought online or using ticket machines. the rail delivery group says by freeing up staff from the counters, they can then help passengers on the concourse and platforms, including selling them tickets. the plans sparked protests from campaigners and unions and has angered disability groups. 0ur reporter leanne brown has more. jane is a regular visitor
Weather forecasts is like a fitness routine this morning. i’m weather forecasts is like a fitness routine this morning. weather forecasts is like a fitness routine this morning. i m trying to net m routine this morning. i m trying to get my steps routine this morning. i m trying to get my steps out routine this morning. i m trying to get my steps out by routine this morning. i m trying to get my steps out by moving - routine this morning. i m trying to get my steps out by moving my i routine this morning. i m trying to i get my steps out by moving my arm! very good. train companies are planning to close hundreds of station ticket offices across england over the next three years. it s a move that s sparked protests from campaigners and unions. disability groups say it ll be more difficult for vulnerable customers to use the train and could stop some from travelling at all. 0ur reporter leanne brown has more. jane is a regular visitor to grimsby railway station, often going to london with her partner, paul. as a wheelchair user, it s a vital mode of transport. never had a car. so we are 100% users of rail. without railways, we wouldn t go anywhere. i wonder if you could help me, please, regarding tickets. so we want to go to london. jane campaigns for better transport and is worried about the plans to remove ticket offices.
Good morning from bbc london. disability groups and trade unions have raised further concerns about plans to close almost every train ticket office. industry body the rail delivery group insists the move will modernise customer service as just 12% of passengers buy tickets at offices. the government will make the final decision on which ones will be axed. but some say the plans haven t been thought through as it could have a huge impact on how disabled people travel. they talk about, well, we re going to be improving the ticket vending machines and making it so that they all take cash and they re all able to sell all available rail products. for example, the 50% wheelchair discount that you only get currently from speaking to a member of staff at the ticket office. is that going to be in place by the time that the ticket offices are closed? and this is all detail and information that we don t know and the public doesn t know.
Travel and weather where you are. hello, good morning from bbc london. i m victoria hollins. disability groups and trade unions have raised further concerns about plans to close almost every train ticket office. the exploitation of young and elderly. police investigating an assault in sittingbourne last month have released cctv images of a man they d like to speak to in connection with the incident. the victim was in a cocktail lounge in saint michaels road when a man hit him over the head with a glass and punched and kicked him to the floor. the man was left with deep cuts to his face.
In his constituency. the cabinet office is to learn whether it has won its legal challenge to the uk covid 19 inquiry chairwoman s request for boris johnson s unredacted whatsapp messages, notebooks and diaries. high courtjudges are expected to hand down their decision over the government s judicial review of baroness heather hallett s order this afternoon. proposals to close nearly all the ticket offices at railway stations across england have been strongly criticised by unions and disability groups. 0perators say most tickets are now bought online orfrom machines. a public consultation has begun. the stunning sea birds, gannets, which mate for life, breed in just a few locations worldwide, one of them is bass rock, in the firth of forth. but last year, the colony was decimated by bird flu. 0ur climate editorjustin rowlatt went to look for signs