Media centre

Wednesday 5 Nov 2014

Network Rail to outline preferred options for Cambridgeshire level crossing closures at public consultation

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Residents living alongside the East Coast Main Line through Cambridgeshire are invited to share their views as part of a second round of consultation into plans to close a number of level crossings.

The first of several meetings is on Saturday 8 November at St Neots Priory Centre. Residents will have the opportunity to understand what happened as a result of the first round of consultation exercises and how Network Rail has taken their feedback on board.

Network Rail is studying the feasibility of closing 10 level crossings in Cambridgeshire on the East Coast Main Line as part of a commitment to deliver a safer, more efficient and reliable railway.

Paul Rutter, Network Rail area director, said: “Closing a level crossing can help to make the railway safer, more efficient and more reliable. Following the first round of consultation we held with residents, councils and businesses, we have taken into account a wide range of views and opinions on the options we presented at round one.

“We are now in a position to present our findings for each proposed level crossing closure to members of the public and interested parties.”

As part of the first round of consultation, Network Rail held 28 public events across six affected local authorities, where a number of options were considered for each location including, where appropriate, alternative means of crossing the railway.

Network Rail received over 3,400 responses to the proposals which enabled the development of preferred solutions that can hopefully be supported by all interested parties including residents, businesses and local authorities.

As part of the second round of consultation, residents will be asked to give feedback on Network Rail’s preferred options prior to a Transport Works Act Order being submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport during 2015.

The meetings will be held as follows:

• Saturday 8 November, St Neots Priory Centre between 1pm and 5pm
  Level crossings discussed: Firbanks No 1, Great Paxton and Love Lane
• Tuesday 11 November, St Neots Priory Centre between 4pm and 8pm
  Level crossing discussed: Firbanks No 1, Great Paxton and Love Lane
• Saturday 15 November, Austin Hall Amenity Centre, Yaxley between 11am and 3pm
  Level crossings discussed: Yaxley Lode, Holme Lode, Holme, Conington North
• Tuesday 18 November, Abbots Ripton Village Hall between 4pm to 8pm
  Level crossing discussed: Abbots Ripton
• Thursday 20 November, Holme Village Hall between 4pm to 8pm
  Level crossings discussed: Yaxley Lode, Holme Lode, Holme, Conington North
• Saturday 22 November, Abbots Ripton Village Hall between 11am to 3pm
  Level crossing discussed: Abbots Ripton
• Thursday 8 January 2015, Village Hall, Offord Cluny between 4pm and 8pm
  Level crossings discussed: Offord, Gills
• Saturday 10 January, Village Hall, Offord Cluny between 11am and 3pm
  Level crossings discussed: Offord, Gills