Application to close Cornton level crossing

Network Rail are pressing forward with plans to close the Cornton level crossings after lodging planning submissions to construct two new bridges in the area.

A letter was this week sent out to residents near the crossings informing them that an application for both a road and pedestrian footbridge has been submitted to Stirling Council.

The Observer reported last month on a well-attended public meeting where householders in Forth Park and Vale Grove hit out at plans to close the crossings, saying such moves will cut them off from their community in Bridge of Allan.

Around 60 local people attended to highlight their concerns to MSP for Clacks and Dunblane Keith Brown, Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, and councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Graham Houston.

The replacement road bridge, planned for the B823 between the prison and primary school, would add around a mile on to their journey into the village while some residents say the planned pedestrian bridge is also too far from the estate.

There are also fears the area will become isolated and no longer feature on bus routes.

Those concerned about the plans say that their next step is to lodge formal objections as Network Rail move forward with the planned closures.

They want to close the crossings before the railway through Stirling is electrified in 2019 as faster, quieter electric trains are said to increase the safety risk.