AROUND 250 residents turned out to protest the council’s proposal to change a historic level crossing.  

Wareham level crossing has long been disputed between residents and Dorset Council, who want to modify the railway bridge with either a lift or ramp.  

The electronic gate across the railway is currently manually operated by a crossing attendant, which costs taxpayers £120,000 a year to maintain.

Residents protested the issue on Saturday, November 16 ahead of a planned Dorset Council meeting on Tuesday, November 19.

(Image: Jean Dixon)

Edward Fox OBE said: “As a regular user of Wareham Station, I am well aware that the ground level crossing is of vital importance to many, particularly a large population in the north of the town, who rely on the crossing to access health care, shops, jobs, schools and so on in the town centre and currently walk or cycle into town.

“It is, to my mind, extraordinary and presumptuous that Dorset Council is proposing yet again to build a ramped bridge at Wareham’s station when three previous similar schemes have failed.

“This would cut the town in half, an extraordinary notion in itself, isolate vulnerable residents for whom it would be impossible to use the steep ramps and prevent school children from cycling to school.

“Dorset Council and Network Rail appear to be implacably determined on pushing this through without the decency and good manners to consult local people.

“It would have an eternally irreversible impact on the town’s future as well as being a permanent blot on the town’s historic station.”

Dorset Council previously said that Network Rail has confirmed the crossing will be closed in 2038, and that a step-free solution needs to be determined.

Residents can attend the council meeting at 6.30pm at County Hall, Dorchester.