MP shares residents’fears over crossing

Normans Bay Residents Association (NBRA) believe Network Rail have not fully listened to their concerns or taken seriously the effects that changing the crossing from being manually operated to a 24 hour remotely controlled crossing operated from a control centre at Three Bridges.

Network rail’s plans include making the road across the crossing a single lane. Nick Munroe of the NBRA said it is impossible to see over the crossing from one side to the other and therefore traffic coming in opposite directions risk meeting bumper to bumper on the crossing with one or the other having to reverse. Nick said: “The NBRA have grave concerns about this proposal.” The NBRA are also concerned about the increased usage of the road through the village by traffic which currently uses the main A259. The road through Normans Bay is an unadopted public highway is narrow in places, and single track with passing places.

Mr Barker said he will be seeking clarification of the proposed changes. He said: “The local community in Norman’s Bay needs more information and reassurance from Network Rail that their clearly expressed concerns have been taken into account in the plans for the new level crossing. I shall be asking senior Network Rail managers for updated proposals and for clear evidence that local residents have been listened to and these concerns have been addressed.”