Stuck barrier causes more road misery

Drivers were hit by severe city centre delays when a notorious level crossing barrier stuck for several hours in Canterbury.

Bus operator Stagecoach said its services were delayed and traffic was at a standstill in St Dunstan’s after the barrier stayed in the down position.

The notoriously busy crossing has malfunctioned on previous occasions.

A spokesman for Network Rail said at around 5pm on Sunday: “The level crossing at St Dunstan’s reported to have failed at about 11.30am this morning.

“It has been identified as an electrical issue affecting the barriers meaning that they are currently in the down position.

“Engineers are working to rectify the fault. For the time being, train services are unaffected however the road is blocked as a result.”

Contractors had fixed the barriers and traffic began to flow freely again from around 5.30pm.

The malfunction prompted angered residents to post comments to Kentonline, the KM Group’s news website.

Jeremy Baker, a solicitor and local transport campaigner, wrote: “These barrier failures are yet another reason why a second entrance to the station, from Roper Road, is needed soon.”

Earlier this month we revealed that Canterbury City Council is pricing up costs of building a new access point to Canterbury West Station.

An entrance from Roper Road would require a bridge over the northernmost track and could allow passengers to avoid the level crossing at St Dunstan’s.

Traffic is brought to a standstill by the level crossing