Print Page - Lingfield level crossing shut after 'near misses'

From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16980257):

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Rail bosses have closed a footpath level crossing in a Surrey village due to "a number of near misses" involving pedestrians and trains.

Network Rail said it was seeking funding to replace the crossing between Lingfield Station and Racecourse Road with a footbridge.

The company has a national programme to close level crossings where possible.

The villagers, however, said while the crossing was dangerous, closing it would be inconvenient.

Chris D'Avery, who chairs the parish council, said: "We are mindful that life and safety is of paramount importance but this does disenfranchise a lot of people from easy access to the countryside.

"We'd like to meet with Network Rail and see whether there are alternatives to actually closing this footpath."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "Level crossings remain the biggest single safety risk on the railway.

"Following a number of near misses involving people narrowly avoiding being struck by a train, Lingfield was identified for closure."

Now, I don't usually make any comment on the news items I post here, as I offer them merely to encourage an open debate on rail-related matters.

However, in this particular case, I would like to say something:

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The villagers, however, said while the crossing was dangerous, closing it would be inconvenient.

So, which would you villagers prefer: to have to walk a little further to exercise your dogs, or see a child squished on that dangerous crossing?

Chris from Nailsea. :-X

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All across the Great Western territory => The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom => Topic started by: Chris from Nailsea on February 10, 2012, 22:35:26