Rethink over crossing work

Councillor Trevor Davies told a meeting last night that pedestrians would be able to cross the level crossing after all when it is closed after he raised the problem with Shropshire Council road chiefs yesterday.

The closure of the crossing from October 17 to November 9 raised fears the village would be cut in two.

It was feared people using the mainline station would face long diversions depending on which side of the train track they want to get to.

Initially it was stated that neither motorists nor pedestrians would be able to use the level crossing.

That meant villagers living on the Oswestry side of Gobowen would have had to use a nearby footbridge to get to school or village shops.

Councillor Davies feared families would struggle walking youngsters to school, especially those with pushchairs unable to climb the steps of the footbridge.

And he said older people and those with mobility problems would also be cut off from the main part of the village.

But he told a meeting of the Gobowen, Selattyn, St Martins and Weston Rhyn local joint committee last night that pedestrians would now be able to cross the level crossing.

He said: "I contacted Shropshire Council and they said they were unaware of the problem.

"They made their own inquiries and have now arranged for pedestrian access.

"They did not realise provision had not been made for residents living in the Cornwall Avenue area of Gobowen to get to the village centre."