I agree with the croppers here, and I also agree with Russ. So there! I try to compose in the camera to the best of my ability, but sometimes I do find that something I included for one reason ends up being a distraction for other reasons.
In this case, I like the image better without the right hand area and would have cropped at the little stone ledge to eliminate the stuff on the right. I would then have darkened the area beyond the planks. OTOH, I would miss the curving top of the handrail at the bottom right of the image, which adds greatly to the geometry of the picture.
The other change I would make concerns the people. I know people are often put in for scale or interest, but here, since everybody understands the scale from the relatively standard size of steps I do not find the people necessary. In fact I think this picture would be stronger without them. However, if you had waited until the people descended all the way, and hopefully turned to exit under the arch (in or just approaching the brighter area) there would have been a bit of tension created by their position.
You could have taken thie shot you did and then waited and taken one or more with the people in other positions.