RAIL bosses have been challenged to meet commuters who are angry about the installation of ticket gates.

Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock has written to the managing directors of Southern Railway and Transport for London's London Rail, which have made the changes.

Under the new system, a ticket gate has been introduced at one of the exits for both stations while a gate at their other exits has only limited access during the day.

The changes come ahead of plans to bring in an Oyster pay-as-you-go system along the East London Line next year.

Sit Steve has invited the managers to a meeting on July 18 at both the stations during the evening peak period to meet him and some of the stations' commuters.

In his letter, the mayor writes: "The installation of barriers is causing delays and inconvenience of a large scale as well as putting those individuals who have mobility problems of any kind in a very difficult position."

Changes came into force at Sydenham last month and transport spokesman for community group the Sydenham Society Barry Milton said huge amounts of disruption had been caused He said: "The situation has become intolerable.

"More and more people are using these station and the exits really aren't big enough."

And Forest Hill Society chairman Michael Abrahams said closing one of the exits being during the day was causing problems.

He said: "People with buggies or poor mobility can no longer use that exit and now have to use four flights of stairs to get to that side of the station.

"That's just not manageable."

He added: "It's been really badly thought out and they should have taken longer to think this through."

News Shopper is awaiting a response from Southern Railway and Transport for London