Plans to close ‘dangerous’ level crossing to be decided this week
Network Rail wants to shut the crossing at Penleigh Park, saying it's a risk to life
Plans to close a ‘dangerous’ level crossing in Westbury will be debated by Wiltshire Councillors this week.
Network Rail has applied to close the pedestrian crossing at Penleigh Park, arguing it poses ‘a serious risk of fatality’.
The crossing allows pedestrians to traverse the Westbury Avoiding Line – a track used by high-speed trains bypassing Westbury Station.
The public body, which is responsible for the maintenance of the UK’s railway network, says the crossing already has the highest level of protection available – short of erecting a pedestrian footbridge across the tracks.
It says it is particularly concerned by “vulnerable and encumbered users,” who take up to 50 per cent longer to get safely across the line.
And it says it objected to the construction of new housing at Amazon Way in 2016, unless a bridge was included in the plans. It says Wiltshire Council secured a £2 million developer contribution towards the cost of a bridge, but it has not yet been built.
But locals say closing the crossing would cut off a link between new housing at the Amazon Way estate and the town centre, forcing residents to take a 1km detour.
Network Rail has suggested an alternative route, which would take pedestrians along a narrow footpath under a railway bridge which crosses Station Road.
Nearly 50 objections have been made to the proposals, with Wiltshire Council’s own area highway engineer and countryside access officers, Westbury Town Council, the Ramblers, and the Open Spaces Society weighing in.
All parties agree that there have been no accidents at the crossing, although Network Rail says CCTV has recorded children ‘misusing’ the facility.
The Open Spaces Society argues the closure “will discourage people from walking and force them into their cars, disadvantaging the public health and wellbeing and damaging the environment.”
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, added: “This is a disastrous proposal, putting the public at great inconvenience and risk.
“If Network Rail considers the crossing dangerous it should make it safer, not close it. We urge councillors to reject this plan.”
The Ramblers say: “The alternative route would add half a mile or more on to most journeys isolating families. Station Road is busy, noisy and ugly.”
Westbury Town Council says: “Network Rail are proposing to send the vulnerable and encumbered on a 1km detour.
“Station Road footpath is inadequate, particularly under the bridge, which is too narrow for anything but single file pedestrian traffic and cannot accommodate wider prams. The route is covered in pigeon faeces.
“There are no assurances about a bridge being built… unless Network Rail would provide funds to meet the shortfall.”
The matter will be determined by Wiltshire Council’s Western Area Planning Committee on Wednesday, October 8.