7th January 2010

MISTERTON: Residents fear death on the railway

MISTERTON Parish Council is demanding action from Network Rail over the suitability of a pedestrian crossing particularly when a new housing development is built across the railway line from all the village facilities.

Although the crossing is a short distance from Crewkerne station and the trains are slowing down, they are still high speed compared to the days of steam when the foot crossing would have been established.

Currently there is only a kissing gate and a few feet of pathway between the village hall and recreation ground and the line which must be walked over, there is no barrier as there are at road level crossings and pedestrians must rely on eyes and ears as to when it is safe.

Villagers fear tragedy when the new development of 99 houses is built as there will be larger volume of people using the crossing in order to access the major amenities the village has to offer, including the school and pre-school.

Parish Council chairman David Welch said: “The application by Betterment Homes in Misterton for a development of almost 100 houses has been broadly supported within our village.

This was demonstrated at a public meeting attended by the developer’s agents. However there was an important proviso - that a safe crossing over the railway near Crewkerne Station be provided.

“We can expect, in view of the housing type, that the houses will be inhabited by people of child-rearing age (even without this factor the arguments equally apply to adults).

“The amenities on the opposite side of the railway include the school, the pre-school facility, the village hall, the recreation ground and its attendant sporting facilities (including the tennis courts), two public houses and the WI hall - a common meeting place for both adult and young people’s activities.

“The Parish Council of Misterton has reached the conclusion that it could be potentially lethal to permit the development without a safe crossing over the railway. The current crossing is of the simplest type available, consisting of two ‘kissing gates’. The lane either side (a public Right of Way) was dissected by the railway when it came to the area in the 1850s.

“We have campaigned as loudly as possible to highlight the safety issues involved but fear that the development may be permitted without the safe crossing, which could take the form of a pedestrian bridge or a tunnel underneath the railway.”

Network Rail, whose engineers examined the situation in 2005 and wrote to David Laws MP saying they had: “identified an unacceptable increased risk level due to the future use of the crossing due to the new development. The company therefore ask the council to make is a condition of planning consent that the developers construct a footbridge.”

In October 2009 Ian McWilliams, Senior Planning Liaison Officer for Somerset County Council said: “In 2005 (after the previous application for the redevelopment of the site was permitted) a transport study was undertaken to review the extensive number of transport related measures and studies being progressed in and around Crewkerne and Misterton.

“A number of potential schemes were identified and assessed and this crossing facility as outlined in my response was identified as the highest priority scheme for Misterton.

“Given the scale of the development and the likely increase in pedestrian movements in and around the school it is felt reasonable for the Highway Authority to request that this development, whilst not fully funding this facility does make a significant contribution towards its introduction.”

However on Monday town planning technician for Network Rail, Mike Smith commented on the planning application: “The information from the census served to confirm the thoughts that NR had of the current level of use the crossing.

It showed that it had infrequent use over it and warranted its current setup. We then used the predicted figures for the number of dwellings to produce our own prediction of use at the crossing.

This allows us to assess the future risk and the increase in risk caused by the new development. Unfortunately, the increase in risk was not sufficient to warrant the construction of a bridge.

“I understand that there is a diversionary route over the railway not very far from the crossing that allows a safe passage to the other side and one that can be used in all weather conditions. It is suggested that this be encouraged as the main route over the railway.”

Councillor Welch continued: “We understand that a recent survey has been conducted to prove that an improved crossing is not required. As none of the houses have been built and in consequence not one of the 300 or more expected inhabitants present, the survey would seem to be of very limited value.

“We would very much like to know of the quantitative criteria and the calculations used to determine the outcome of such a survey. There have been a series of minor incidents at the crossing over the years.

“The natural route to the village for all inhabitants of the new development will be via the crossing. The alternative route via the road is three times longer and considerably more dangerous due to the nature of the road and the volume of traffic using it. The natural route is much more sustainable.

“It would encourage walking and thus a healthier lifestyle. By comparison the road route would lead to increased car usage - adding yet further to the congestion problems of the village.

“If financial restraints are governing the decision not to provide safe crossing, we have a suggestion. The current plans provide a playground area on the south-east of the development.

“The village is blessed with good recreational resources (all, as explained, on the other side of the railway line), so we would favour a contraction of the play area of the proposed development to provide additional housing. This may well provide the additional funds necessary to meet our request and hence address our concerns.”

The parish council was unanimous in a decision to request another meeting with Betterment Homes, who they said “seem to be ignoring all the concerns of the existing residents and the very real danger posed by the lack of a bridge over the railway when the houses are eventually built.”

PICTURE: OUTDATED & DANGEROUS CROSSING - County Councillor John Dyke and District Councillor Angie Singleton offer their support to Misterton Parish Council chairman David Welch and Councillors Anne Kay, Diane Bradley, Ray England, Graham White Robin Heyd-Smith and Carol Walker

MISTERTON: Residents fear death on the railway

MISTERTON: Residents fear death on the railway

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