Bradford on Avon Town Council’s petition to save the town’s train station ticket office has reached the 1,000-signature milestone.

Councillors took action last month after the ticket office was one of 675 in England and Wales recommended for closure in a Government study by Sir Roy McNulty. The offices would be replaced by machines.

Now that the petition has had the support from more than 1,000 people, councillors will be meeting with local MP Duncan Hames on Saturday to discuss their next steps in an effort to persuade the government not to close the ticket office.

Town councillor John Potter said: “We are very pleased the petition has had so much support, as it shows just how essential the ticket office is to this town.

“This is not a petition to keep all the ticket offices open, as I’m sure some are under-used, but Bradford on Avon’s is an important part of the town.”

Cllr Potter said that First Great Western, which operates the station, does not have any plans to close the ticket office, but its future looks unclear once the franchise agreement runs out in 2016.

He said: “I’ve heard rumours that First Great Western might be ending their franchise agreement earlier than expected.

“So, when this ends, whenever that maybe, the Government will then be free to close the ticket office. We need to convince them to make an exception.”

Cllr Potter said this had been done previously, pinpointing Llandudno’s train station being made an exception to proposed ticket office closure.

He said: “The ticket office is a fantatsic part of Bradford on Avon for so many people and I think closing it, especially considering that the waiting room has recently been renovated, is bonkers.

“We now want to draw this to the Government’s attention and also get the support from all Bradford on Avon’s businesses to show what an asset the ticket office is to the town.”

To sign the petition, visit the town council offices next to St Margaret’s Hall.