LOCAL MP, Dr Andrew Murrison MP, has visited the level crossing in Oldfield Road to see for himself the gates, the speed of the passenger and freight trains and the extent of the development on the other side of the track.
Westbury town councillors have been very critical of Wiltshire Council, Linden Homes and Network Rail, saying the new housing development being built does not address children’s routes to local schools, nurseries and community projects over the railway tracks. Councillors have said that the risk to life is too great by doing nothing.
The MP was accompanied on his visit last week by Richard Hatt, headteacher of Westbury Junior School, Brian Smith treasurer of POPCAN, cllr Jane Russ and cllr Sheila Kimmins, chairman of POPCAN, (Penleigh & Oldfield Park Community Action Network).
Cllr Sheila Kimmins said, “Using the level crossing will be the most direct way for families on the new Linden Homes estate to access Westbury Infants School, Westbury Juniors School, Brightstar’s Nursery, the Westbury Community Project and Penleigh Park with its play area and skate board ramp. This crossing is most important as it will allow new families moving onto the estate, which has no community facilities of its own, to be part of the wider community.
“The current gates at the level crossing are ‘kissing gates,’ making it impossible for parents with pushchairs or those with wheelchairs to get through. Although there is a traffic light system to warn when a train is coming, the gates do not lock, so would not stop children from trying to dash across. Before the building of the new estate, this was always a questionable crossing on safety grounds. However, now it is a really significant issue with the possibility of 300 homes bringing upwards of 300 new children into the area.
“Dr Murrison’s question was where is the CIL money from Linden Homes, who are currently building the houses by the lake in Station Road, that could be used to make a proper locking railway crossing? He assured the local representatives present that he would be asking questions of Wiltshire Council, GWR and the developers about this.”
The Local Government Association states, “CIL is a levy that local authorities can choose to charge on new developments in their area. The money should be used to support development by funding infrastructure that the council, local community and neighbourhoods want.”
