Proposals to close a Suffolk railway crossing have raised safety fears among nearby residents.
Network Rail is looking at four crossings in Woodbridge as part of its nationwide safety review which has seen 1,000 closures in six years.
Residents say the proposed upgrade from half to full barrier at the crossings nearest the station – Ferry Quay and Haywards – seemed “sensible”, though at an estimated £3million cost, rather expensive.
More controversial, however, are the proposals for two crossings towards Melton – Lime Kiln Quay and Sun Wharf.
Network Rail has proposed closing Lime Kiln Quay, upgrading Sun Wharf from half to full barrier and creating a new “link road” between the two.
Nearby resident Barry Zins acknowledged full barriers were safer and said he could understand Network Rail’s reluctance to carry out expensive upgrades on two crossing just a few metres apart.
However, he says that while Network Rail is considering the crossings’ safety, the effects on the wider area would be more dangerous.
Having studied the proposals in details, he claims funnelling traffic from Lime Kiln Quay into Sun Wharf would create complications for pedestrians using the riverside footpath as well as motorists accessing the nearby carpark.
He claims it would create three “blind “corners and two new “pinch-points” where lorries cars and pedestrians will be forced together.
Mr Zins has also questioned whether the proposals may be intended to support quicker trains passing through Woodbridge, which he feels would cause an unnecessary increase noise for residents.
In letters to Network Rail, he suggests the company take a “different approach” for the two separate areas of crossing. While pedestrian safety may be improved at the two busier crossings nearer the station, he argues that the “status quo” of two half barrier crossings at Lime Kiln Quay and Sun Wharf is more convenient.
“We obviously think the proposal is unnecessary and that if implemented it could even lead to a worse situation,” he added. “Network Rail are looking at safety solely from the point of view of how the crossings works, we are looking at the broader safety issues for the town.”
Woodbridge’s county councillor Caroline Page said she was “astonished” to learn of the proposals from “anxious constituents” without having first been consulted.
The proposals are too early to feature in the recent application to close 24 Suffolk crossings, which Network Rail sent to the Secretary of State for Transport.
Network Rail had been scheduled to send a representative to Woodbridge Town Council’s latest planning meeting but was unable to do so.
A spokesman said: We are looking at what scope there is to improve these level crossings in order to maintain the reliability of the railway and we are meeting with the Council, Highways and ORR to discuss this. Once our proposals are finalised we will provide opportunities for public engagement.
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