Ramblers concerned over rail crossing closures

Suffolk Rambler Nigel Meadows says he is worried about three crossings under consideration and wants to know what alternative routes would be offered

The BBC understands 15 rail crossings in Suffolk are being considered for closure or modification by Network Rail.

The list was revealed earlier this year in a report to the Suffolk Local Access Forum, a statutory body which advises on public access.

Nigel Meadows from The Suffolk Ramblers said he "understood" why some of the crossings made the list but had concerns over alternatives at three of them that were used "regularly" by walkers — in Levington Heath, Wherstead near Jimmy's Farm, and at Old Newton/Dagworth.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said it was in the "early stages of discussions" and this was "to find ways to make the railway safer for everyone".

The crossing at Levington Heath, between Ipswich and Felixstowe, is on the list as a potential closure

To shut or change a railway crossing which has a public right of way, Network Rail needs to apply for a Transport Works and Act Order (TWAO). This requires public consultation, can be objected to and the final sign-off has to be made by the secretary of state for transport.

Mr Meadows said he had been made aware of the Network Rail "wish list" in January and had researched the crossings.

He had concerns about lack of alternative routes and said closing them would be a "major loss":

• of most concern was Old Newton, near Stowmarket, "because that's part of the Mid-Suffolk path and a very well-used"

• Levington Heath, near Felixstowe, was "currently very well-used as a link up to the old A12 with a lay-by there and open access land"

• The Wherstead crossing, south of Ipswich, had issues because he had used it this year and "it's near Jimmy's Farm and there seemed to be a lot of people walking around there... obviously a very well-used route again"

We asked Jimmy's Farm for comment but owner Jimmy Doherty was away filming and was unavailable.

Full list under consideration

In 2010, Network Rail said it wanted to close or modify 104 rail crossings around its Anglia network (Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire).

It has already been granted permission to close or change nine crossings in Suffolk.

This latest list puts a further 15 public right-of-way crossings at risk of being shut or changed:

• Barham

• Barking

• Bramfield

• Campsea Ashe

• Kelsale cum Carlton

• Levington Heath

• Martlesham

• Middleton

• Old Newton and Dagworth

• Pettistree

• Playford

• Rushmere St Andrew

• Thurston

• Wenhaston

• Wherstead

Network Rail is responsible for reducing risk at rail crossings under Health and Safety Regulations

Responsibility for maintaining rights of way in Suffolk rests with the county council.

A spokesperson said the council was keeping "an open mind" while it waited for Network Rail to decide if it was going to go ahead with a TWAO.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We are in the early stages of discussions with our statutory stakeholders in Suffolk to find ways to make the railway safer for everyone, including the possible option to close level crossings.

"However, there is currently no funding allocated to take forward new proposals to close or re-designate multiple crossings. "