THE OPENING hours of ticket offices at tube stations in the area will be cut dramatically under plans drawn up by transport bosses.

Transport for London (TfL) said it was bringing in the changes because more passengers are now using Oyster cards which can be topped up at self-service machines, and therefore staff in ticket offices would be of more use to the public on the platform.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has emphasised that staff will be present where passengers needed them and that the changes do not mean that stations be unmanned.

At Woodford and South Woodford tube stations, the office on the westbound side will close entirely, with cuts in the opening hours of the remaining office on the eastbound platform.

Details of the closures began circulating earlier this year but TfL have only recently confirmed the full scope of the cuts and outlined the reasons behind the changes.

The proposed new opening hours for the stations in the area are as follows:

Woodford – eastbound platform
Monday to Friday: 6.45am to 11.15am and 5pm to 6.15pm (currently 6am to 7.30pm)
Saturday: 9am to 3pm (currently 8am to 7.30pm)
Sunday: 10am to 12pm (currently 9am to 4.30am)

South Woodford – eastbound platform
Monday to Friday: 7.15am to 9.45am (currently 6am to 7.30pm)
Saturday: 10.30am to 2.15pm (currently 8am to 7.30pm)
Sunday: 10.30am to 12pm (currently 9am to 4.30pm)

Wanstead
Monday to Friday: 7.15am to 10.30am (currently 6.30am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 7pm)
Saturday: 12pm to 1pm (currently 8.30am to 4pm)
Sunday: 12pm to 2pm (currently 9am to 8pm)

Snaresbrook
Monday to Friday: 7.45am to 9.15am (currently 6am to 1.30pm and 4.30pm to 7pm)
Saturday: 10.15am to 12.15pm (currently 8.30pm to 6pm)
Sunday: 11.30am to 12.30pm (currently 10am to 2pm)

Howard Collins, London Underground's chief operating officer, said: “Consultation continues with the unions on proposed changes to how and where staff work on stations.

“We have assured staff and customers that all of our stations will continue to be staffed at all times while trains are operating and all stations with a ticket office will continue to have one.

“However in the same way that people no longer use their bank branch to cash cheques, the Oyster technology rolled out across TfL means that only one in 20 journeys involve any interaction at a ticket office window.

“What we are seeking to do is deploy staff more visibly in stations where they can more easily assist passengers.

“We are committed to delivering these changes with no compulsory redundancies. The safe operations of our network remains at the top of our priorities and these changes will improve our performance still further.

“We are available at all times to speak with Unions about the details of our proposals.”

Will you be affected by the ticket office closures? Are you concerned about the impact that these changes will have?

Contact Guardian reporter James Ranger on 07795 316 211 or email jranger@london.newsquest.co.uk.