Crossing plan causes anger

A well-attended public meeting saw worried residents from a Stirling estate hit out at plans by Network Rail to close the Cornton level crossings.

Householders in Forth Park and Vale Grove claim the loss of the crossings will cut them off from their community in Bridge of Allan as a planned replacement road bridge would add around a mile onto their walk into the village.

And although Network Rail have now included a pedestrian bridge near to Forth Park in their planning application, there is still significant opposition to the plans among residents.

MSP for Clacks and Dunblane Keith Brown and Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, plus councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Graham Houston, attended the public meeting, along with around 60 locals, at the Allan Centre on Monday night.

Householder Bill Glencross said his research highlighted the level of opposition to the planned closures.

He said: “I went around all 85 houses in the area and handed out questionnaires. I’ve had 74 replies and, of those, 66 want the crossing to remain open – that’s 92 per cent. There were six households who want the pedestrian bridge.

“I presented these stats to everyone at the meeting and I think the message is clear. The vast majority of people in this area don’t want the crossing to close.”

Residents feel the footbridge will be too far away from the homes of the concerned residents and wouldn’t be suitable for everyone wishing to walk into Bridge of Allan. There are also fears the estate will be isolated and no longer on a bus route.

Mr Glencross said his questionnaires also showed that 38 per cent of those who responded would consider moving house due to the proposal while 76 per cent were concerned about the value of their property.

Mr Glencross added: “There was a good, respectful tone to the meeting and I think everyone now knows the level of opposition to this plan.

“The people of Forth Park, Vale Grove, and also residents of Westerlea Drive, articulately put the points across. The turnout was really good and there was a lot of technical knowledge.

“We understand Network Rail are going to put in a planning application so our next step would be to lodge our objections.”

Mr Brown was pleased that Network Rail had included a pedestrian footbridge in their plans but conscious that the majority of householders want the crossing to remain open.

He said: “When I first became involved in this issue, the main concern raised was the distance people would have to walk to reach Bridge of Allan and the lack of a pedestrian footbridge for residents of the Forth Park area.

“I am therefore pleased that following representations I made about this and all the other issues raised by my constituents, that Network Rail have now included a pedestrian bridge near to Forth Park in their planning application.

“However, it was clear from last night’s meeting that the preference for the majority of the community is for the crossing to remain open and I will continue to represent these views during the planning process.”

Network Rail want to close the crossings before the railway through Stirling is electrified in 2019.