THERE is good news for residents in Barnt Green, Blackwell and the surrounding areas after Network Rail announced a bridge would be built to offer an alternative to the Cofton Hall rail crossing.
We reported in January how NR had decided to close the regularly used crossing on safety grounds.
Despite no injuries or deaths at the site, the organisation said there was insufficient warning time of approaching trains and claimed there could be up to 300 trains-a-day using the route with some of them travelling up to 90mph.
Concerns about the path, which takes pedestrians across three railway lines from Cofton Church Lane to Bittell Farm Road, were raised by NR which claimed users were not stopping at the ‘central refuge’ to check it was safe to cross.
A campaign by residents, councillors and other interested parties ensued and now NR has agreed to provide a bridge.
Coun Peter McDonald who has been one of the people leading the campaign said he was delighted with both the agreement and by the fact the funding was already in place.
“This is good news for local residents who I have been supporting to have the footpath reopened.
“This will mean the end of a lengthy detour and the reopening of a well-liked walk through the countryside of Cofton Hackett.
“The only bad news is there will be an extension to its closure so works can begin.
“However, a bridge will be a great deal safer than a foot-crossing especially with the electrification of the line and the extra traffic this will cause.”
A Network Rail spokesperson told The Standard: “Funding has been secured for a footpath level crossing at Cofton, near Bromsgrove.
“Statutory processes including planning permission are being sought with a provisional date for installation of December 2017.”
