MRUA Querying Ticket Office Availability

Regular users of Manningtree station in the off-peak hours, during the day, will quite possibly have noticed lately that the ticket office is often closed.  Although there is a ticket machine available the types of tickets that it sells are limited.  There are a number of reports of passengers visiting the station to buy post dated tickets, or to ask for information, only to find the ticket office closed.  The nature and location of Manningtree station is such that some passengers come some distance to use it - all the more frustrating when it's a wasted journey.  Staff shortages are being blamed for this and the MRUA has asked National Express East Anglia to rectify the situation.