Council’s anger at Network Rail over £66,000 Newmarket rail crossing bill

Councillors are considering writing to the Transport Secretary to complain over how Network Rail ran its unsuccessful campaign to close Newmarket’s much-used Weatherby rail foot crossing which has cost Council Tax-payers more than £66,000.

On Monday, members of the town council, which has had to foot the bill for fighting the proposal to shut the crossing, which provides a vital pedestrian route linking two parts of the town, will be urged by the deputy mayor, Cllr John Harvey, to make their feelings known to the minister regarding Network Rail’s campaign, its impact on the town council’s finances, and that money could have been better spent by the rail operator on rail improvements.

At the end of last month, David Last who is the definitive map office for Suffolk County Council, informed Newmarket town clerk, Cathy Whitaker, that no High Court objection to the decision made in May by planning inspector Mark Yates that the crossing should stay open had been lodged and the time limit had now elapsed.

“I feel Network Rail have accepted the decision as they have been making enquiries about applying for an order to stop up rights higher than bridleway to make the crossing safer,” said Mr Last, “which would only mean the rights of non motorised vehicles, eg horse-drawn carts, would be prevented. As the route crosses an active railway line the works to make the new crossing available are entirely down to Network Rail.”

On Monday councillors will hear that had the second public inquiry, and subsequent further written representations, not have been pursued by Network Rail, Newmarket Council Tax- payers would have been saved around £25,000.

The six-year fight to keep the crossing open was financed by the town council but led by residents Michael Smy and Dr Rachel Wood, assisted by town councillor Peter Hulbert.

Speaking after the inspector’s decision earlier this year, Dr Wood, praised Mr Smy for his efforts and the 32 witnesses who had given evidence.

“I would like them to be remembered, because this has been going on for a very long time and I know some of them are no longer with us,” she said.

“I would also like to thank the Newmarket Journal for access to its archives which provided invaluable evidence of this route having public status and widespread use of the crossing.

"Its reports were the critical ones because of the level of detail they provided.”