A Bridge Too Vulgar... award winner Fox joins protests over ‘eyesore’ rail crossing

ACTOR Edward Fox gave an impassioned speech as a British general in the classic war film A Bridge Too Far.

Now 80, the screen star has launched a new battle cry – this time against controversial plans for his local railway bridge.

The actor made a heartfelt plea after a public meeting, warning officials the proposals would leave a ‘permanent blot’ on the market town of Wareham in Dorset.

Fox won a Bafta for his role as Lt Gen Brian Horrocks in the 1977 movie, based on Operation Market Garden, the failed Second World War mission to take eight key bridges held by the Germans.

He is now determined not to lose the fight against Network Rail and council plans to add an ‘unsightly’ network of ramps to the Grade II-listed station footbridge at a cost of up to £1.7million.

The actor, pictured, argued the 19ft-high network would overwhelm the historic structure.

The station, which is served by pretty brick buildings, dates from 1887. The star said: ‘This is a vital issue which will affect the day-to-day lives of local residents and have an irreversible impact on the town’s future. The proposal would also be a permanent blot on our town’s historic station.’

Rail bosses and Dorset County Council want to add ramps to the footbridge and shut off the ‘dangerous’ level crossing used by pushchair and wheelchair users.

The crossing is controlled by locked gates and a security guard at a cost of £120,000 a year.

The plans will mean those on the new route over the tracks will have to travel 450ft up and down the zigzagging ramps.

Fox has lived near Wareham on the Isle of Purbeck since the 1980s. He uses the station to travel to London. More than 2,200 people have signed a petition calling for the current crossing to be retained.

But a Dorset Council spokesman said the design for Wareham station was ‘less imposing’ than previous proposals. A final planning decision will be made by the county council’s regulatory committee.