Mal wrote:

The gates must be manned. But they can be monitored from a ticket office.
They have a plunger in there also. If your ticket doesn't work you are
expected to go to the excess fare window, show your ticket and the person in
the office will let you out. Not through the side gate.
The 5 second rule is also if someone gets caught in a gate....child perhaps.
Monitoring can be done remotely. Staff don't like it but thats the way LUL
say is OK after risk assesment.

Like I said in the OP - there are often no visible staff at East
Putney. Ticket office closed, gates shut, no one responding to the
information button. Hence it isn't possible to go to the excess fare
window