Mixed reactions to level crossing remaining open

An announcement that a level crossing will be kept open has evoked a mix of concerns and "relief" from politicians.

Network Rail, which owns the nation’s railway tracks, intended to close the crossings between Kidlington and Yarnton in Oxfordshire as part of a programme to shut those with a high risk of incidents or fatalities.

Last week the authority announced the move had been deferred because the “anticipated growth in the use of freight trains has not yet materialised”.

Green councillor Ian Middleton said that "leaves this area with a degree of uncertainty", while Lib Dem Dorothy Walker welcomed the update, saying the link road "provides vital inter-village connectivity for businesses and people living in Kidlington".

Sandy Lane links Yarnton and Begbroke to Kidlington.

It runs between the two main northbound arteries going away from Oxford: the A44 and A4260, and crosses over the Sandy Lane level crossing and a narrow historic bridge over the Oxford Canal.

Network Rail intended to close the crossing to facilitate the running of more freight trains on the rail route.

“Our plans to close Sandy Lane and Yarnton Lane level crossings have been deferred as the anticipated growth in the use of freight trains has not yet materialised owing to the current economic circumstances following the pandemic," the authority said.

It appealed to people to "make sure that they’re following the signage and not taking any risks" when using the crossing.

Mr Middleton said he thought Network Rail had put the closure "down on the to-do list" as other projects such as the Oxford Station upgrade had taken priority.

"Keeping their options open leaves this area with a degree of uncertainty [which] is very serious when we're talking about some quite significant developments going around here," he said.

"They need clarity on how the road's layout is going to be designed and how it's going to fit in these new developments."

He added that in the past Network Rail had an "overriding concern" about safety due to past fatalities and said he imagined "the discussions will start again" in the next couple of years.

Ms Walker said that the news "comes as a great relief to local residents and businesses".

"The road is much needed by residents to access medical and pharmaceutical services, leisure, social, shopping and sports amenities and by businesses and local service providers, such as carers."

In 2021, a petition against the intended closure amassed 2,000 signatures after three parish councils wrote a letter calling for a proper assessment.

"As the road network in our area becomes increasingly loaded and connectivity more compromised with the huge amount of housing and business development, we cannot afford to lose the use of Sandy Lane as a driveable road," Ms Walker said.

She said it provided "a release valve for local, inter-village traffic" and that it "saves many tonnes of emissions every year by not forcing drivers to take the longer routes into Kidlington via Langford Lane or Frieze Way".

Ms Walker added that while active travel "must be encouraged", community needs and connectivity was "a vital consideration".