Council brands rail crossing closure plan as ‘dangerous’

Councillors at Westbury Town Council have issued a strongly-worded response to proposed plans to shut the Penleigh Park rail crossing. 

Network Rail plan to close the crossing, warning that “there is now a serious risk of fatality if the level crossing is not closed.”  

They suggest pedestrians use an alternative route via Oldfield Road, Bridge Court, Station Road and Amazon Way – a 1km diversion – in the event of the crossing’s closure. 

Following a recent meeting of Westbury Town Council, councillors decided to create a Task and Finish group to formulate a dedicated response. This group has now written a dedicated objection to Network Rail. 

Part of the response reads, “Network Rail has failed to provide evidence that the crossing is any more dangerous that it was in 1933 when it was first opened.  There is no empirical evidence whatsoever – no evidence of fatalities, or even near misses, at this footpath crossing.” 

Councillors’ objections also touch on the proposed detour if the rail crossing is shut and the impact it could have on vulnerable people. 

The response adds, “The lack of alternative routes, should this crossing be closed, is, frankly, dangerous. Station Road footpath is inadequate, particularly where it passes under the rail bridge, where the western side footpath is too narrow for anything other than single file pedestrian traffic, cannot accommodate wider prams or pushchairs and cannot be used by parents with small children, even if the pigeon faeces that builds up on the footpath from birds nesting under Network Rail’s bridge.   

“Major improvements to pedestrian routes in Station Road would be required, the cost of which should be borne by network Rail prior to further contemplation of the crossing closure. 

“Westbury Town Council believes that the case for closure of the crossing is extremely weak, with a complete lack of any evidence to support the Network Rail claims, and closure of the crossing is nothing short of indefensible.” 

A spokesperson for Network Rail said, “Over the past year, we’ve recorded a number of serious incidents involving misuse of the crossing at Penleigh Park in Westbury, with individuals ignoring safety warnings and signage, despite the installation of the Miniature Warning Stop Light (MSL) crossing. 

“The level of unsafe behaviour at this crossing poses a significant risk to the safety of our staff and passengers, as well as to those choosing not to use the crossing as intended. We appreciate this may cause inconvenience to people who use this route, but unfortunately, we’ve been given no option but to seek permission, which has been granted by Wiltshire Council, to close this crossing to avoid a serious incident.

“We will continue to work with Wiltshire Council on their plans to install a bridge at this location.”