Media centre

Thursday 16 Oct 2014

Public meetings to discuss level crossing closures

Region & Route:

People in Newark and Claypole are invited to share their views as part of a second round public consultation into Network Rail’s plans to close level crossings at the south end of the East Coast Main Line.

The second round of consultation begins today (Thursday 16) in Newark and on Saturday 18 October at Claypole Village Hall. It will give residents the opportunity to understand what actions have been taken as a result of their feedback in the first round of consultations.

28 public events were held across six affected local authorities during the first round of consultation. A number of options to be considered for each location were presented, including where appropriate, alternative means of crossing the railway.

More than 3,400 responses were received which have been fed into the preferred solutions on display in the second round of consultations. Once again, Network Rail is asking for feedback on the preferred options. This will then be fed into the submission for a Transport Works Act Order which will go to the Secretary of State for Transport during 2015.

Andy Pollard, Project Manager for Network Rail said: “Closures of level crossings can help to make the railway safer, more efficient and more reliable, and improve local connectivity, which has tangible economic benefits.

“Following the first round of consultation we held with residents, local councils, businesses and many other stakeholders, we have taken into account a wide range of views and opinions on the options we presented at round one.

“Earlier consultations have helped shaped our preferred options and we are now in a position to present our findings for each proposed level crossing closure to members of the public and interested parties.

“Although we would prefer that that everyone supports our proposals, anyone who wishes to raise formal objections will be able to do so once we submit our Transport and Works Act Order application. This will be considered by an independent inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate, who will then decide whether a public inquiry is held.”