Further calls for urgent safety upgrades to hazardous rail crossing

FURTHER safety concerns have been raised over the hazardous Oldfield Road railway crossing, which councillors and residents have warned about for years. Westbury Town Council has again urgently called for safety upgrades, describing the crossing as dangerous and “not fit for purpose,” especially for families and vulnerable pedestrians. 

At a recent highways, planning & development committee meeting, councillors approved a motion highlighting the ongoing risks to public safety. The crossing, which connects the Lakeside housing estate to key services such as schools and shops, is heavily used but poses significant hazards, particularly for young children. 

The motion, put forward by Councillor Julie Wright, outlined concerns that the swing-style gates fail to prevent children from accessing the tracks, even when warning lights and sirens signal an approaching train. The design also creates obstacles for cyclists, wheelchair users, and parents with pushchairs, making it extremely difficult to manoeuvre. 

The motion read, “Red lights and a siren warn of the train’s imminent arrival, but nothing happens to the gates. People can still get through. Children can still get through! Three-year-olds don’t understand the potentially devastating significance of the light or sound.” 

It also described the gates as cumbersome, “The gates on either side of the tracks are narrow, swing-type gates that have to be pushed and manoeuvred around. Backpacks are a big hindrance, suitcases are particularly difficult, and large people would not find them easy. Anybody with a bike or a scooter has to heave it over. I have watched adult males undertake this, with difficulty. I have helped children put their scooters over, but I have been unable to take my own bike through. Anybody with a buggy has no chance of using it.” 

Cllr Wright’s motion further raised concerns about the crossing’s accessibility to those in mental distress, “Sadly, this is exactly the type of crossing that people with severe depression use to take their own life. In 2023/24, there have already been 276 suicides on the rail network. While determined attempts may not be preventable, this type of gate offers a sudden opportunity that can and should be mitigated.” 

The council has agreed to write to Network Rail and the developers, stressing that the crossing is not fit for purpose.  

Concerns over the crossing have been raised repeatedly over the years as the route provides crucial routes to local schools, nurseries, community projects and Penleigh Park over the railway tracks.  The crossing lies over a busy twin-track railway line used by high-speed and heavy freight trains. 

Despite previous warnings from the town council and MP Andrew Murrison, little action has been taken. The council has repeatedly criticised Wiltshire Council for allowing homes to be built without ensuring a safe crossing and has also condemned Network Rail for their inaction, labelling the situation “an accident waiting to happen”.