Sefton Council to refuse Formby footbridge over deadly level crossing

Planning committee recommend refusal for footbridge over level crossing were 22-year-old Yasmin Jones was killed.

Sefton Council’s planning chiefs are opposing the construction of a bridge over a level crossing, where a young woman was killed trying to save her dog.

Last year 22-year-old Yasmin Jones was killed on the crossing as she attempted to save one of the dogs she was walking from being hit by an on-coming train.

National Rail have since filed a planning application to build a footbridge and close the level crossing which sits between Freshfeild and Ainsdale stations in order to prevent further deaths, but Sefton Planning Committee has recommended the plans be refused ahead of next week’s planning committee.

The crossing is considered a “high risk” as people have just eight seconds to react to an oncoming 60mph train - but council planning bosses are opposing the plans based on the fact it would be difficult for cyclists and wheelchair users to access the bridge, despite the fact plans include a wheeling ramp.

A planning report outlining the reasons for the recommendation said that the footbridge would make Fisherman’s Path hard to use for cyclists and those with mobility impairments.

Yasmin Jones, 22, knocked down and killed at a level crossing in Formby.

It said: “It is recognised that wheeling ramps provide limited benefit to cyclists and that not only are they difficult to use but in many cases can in fact be detrimental to the users safety.

“A cycle channel helps guide the wheels of a bike but whilst using the channel the cyclist has to hold the handlebars of the bike and is therefore unable to utilise the bridge handrails.

“Whilst wheelchair users would currently find it difficult to use the paths leading to the level crossing there are users that have mobility issues that can use the crossing but will not be able to use a stepped bridge.

“The Diversity Impact Assessment does not account for the users that may appear to look able bodied but that have some form of mobility issue.

“The proposed bridge is not accessible and will have a detrimental effect on these users.”

A spokesperson for National Rail has been contacted but was not available at the time of publishing.

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Story and Photo Source: Southport Visiter