Ufton Nervet bridge plans to be submitted in spring

NETWORK Rail says it will submit a formal planning application for a bridge at the Ufton Nervet level crossing this spring.

There have been calls to improve safety at the site since a fatal crash on November 6, 2004, in which seven people died and more than 120 were injured.

Since then, another four people have lost their lives at the crossing.

The latest incident, on October 16 last year in which a 60-year-old man from Calcot died, prompted renewed calls for something to be done.

On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of the 2004 crash, Network Rail announced it had found the £8m to £10m required to build a bridge and it expected construction to be finished by the end of 2016.

The rail giant held an internal meeting last month to ask for feedback on the plans before they are submitted.

However, plans for a bridge have been met with hostility from some people locally.

Speaking to the NWN last year, Ufton Nervet resident Peter Newall said: “Whilst we all sympathise with those who were most closely affected by the disasters at the crossing, it is unwise to base the answer to the problem on their reaction.

"I am not aware that any of them live anywhere near the area. “The reality is that if people use the crossing responsibly, they are perfectly safe.

"If Network Rail is hell-bent on getting rid of some money, they could install full gates to replace the existing half-gates.

"There would be little resistance to that compromise.”

A spokeswoman for Network Rail, Victoria Bradley, said: “We are hoping to submit a formal planning application for a bridge at Ufton Nervet this spring and hope to have it completed by the end of 2016.”