Rights of way under threat

Some of Suffolk’s rights of way are under threat due to the planned closure by Network Rail of level crossings that carry footpaths and bridle paths.  The closures are a reaction to what is seen as an unacceptably high number of deaths of pedestrians who have been hit by trains when crossing the rails.

At Suffolk County Council Cabinet meeting this morning we received a report from the Suffolk Local Access Forum (SLAF), a body that develops and supports access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.  The Forum is very concerned about Network Rail’s plans, which it believes will threaten rights of way across the county, many of which have been in existence for centuries.

At Needham Market it is planned to replace the rail crossing with a stepped footbridge.  This will not be a good outcome for cyclists, or for less able walkers.  SLAF is working hard to persuade Network Rail to install an underpass rather than a footbridge at the site, but I find it difficult to see how they will manage to force the railway company to do this.  Other, more remote, rights of way could well be severed for good.

SLAF have a good record of fighting battles to preserve footpaths.    The group won a famous victory over the Highways Authority in securing the construction of an underpass to accommodate a bridleway which passes under the newly ‘dualled’ A11.  Network Rail may however prove a tougher nut to crack.  Despite funding being available, and an understanding being reached with Babergh, they ultimately refused some years ago to install a new station in Great Cornard on the Sudbury to Marks Tey line on the grounds that the timetables could not cope with an additional stop on the line.

The rest of SLAF’s report made for interesting reading. In addition to the struggle with Network Rail, the group is working with EDF to ensure that rights of way at Sizewell are not too disrupted when and if work gets underway on the construction of Sizewell 3.