If you do wish to email Southern Railways about this issue: comments@southernrailway.com. You may also wish to include our London Assembly Member, Len - Len.duvall@london.gov.uk, or Mayor Boris - mayor@london.gov.uk
Yesterday afternoon I believe I got a small concession from Southern which will allow the Perry Vale gate to remain open after 8pm, when the station is unmanned. This means it will be open from 3pm until the end of the day (manned until 8pm), but not before 3pm.
However, there was strong feeling at the Forest Hill Society meeting that this does not go far enough. There was shock from some people who travel southbound in the morning and who will now need to use four sets of stairs to get to the platform. Others were concerned about the safety of passengers when everybody is backed up on the platform waiting to get past the ticket inspectors in the peak times.
It seems a real shame that this system of gate closures will be implemented as a temporary measure until a better solution is found. If you are also concerned use the email above.
Well done Michael for making them realise the egregious pointlessness of their plan to keep the gate closed when the station is unmanned, as pointed out in post 21. Algo es algo.