Kew Gardens station is of “international importance” and should not have its ticket office closed, says the Kew Society.

LAST MONTH: Kew Gardens station's ticket office could close as London Underground consultation begins

The group has backed councillors’ calls for Transport for London to halt its plans to shut down the office as part of a nationwide efficiency drive.

Chairman Caroline Brock said Kew Gardens is “no ordinary station” because of its proximity to two major visitor destinations in the Royal Botanic Gardens and the National Archives.

She said: “Staff in the Kew Gardens station ticket office are invaluable in guiding visitors on the best ticket options for their journeys.

“This advice cannot be replicated by ticket machines and nor are staff on the platforms likely to be able to provide the same level of detailed advice on travel options.

“We would like to see the ticket office kept open and, at the very least, manned over the hours that national and international visitors to these venues are likely to need advice.”

The Kew Society’s opposition to the closures comes as London Underground is consulting into ticket office closures.

Kew Gardens station is served by the District line but also London Overground services between Richmond and Stratford.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, attracts just under 1.5m visitors each year, while the National Archives pull in 90,000 people a year, with 40,000 using the station.

Rail union RMT confirmed this week that it would fight to save jobs and defend services at 81 ticket offices which have been earmarked for closure.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “These plans, driven by the desire to de-staff our railways in the quest for profit, would unleash a wave of ticket office carnage across rail franchises that are already seen as the basket-cases of Britain’s privatised railway network.

“RMT is launching a campaign of opposition to these plans and we will be working with the travelling public to stop them in their tracks.”