Fears new Wem rail crossing will 'cause chaos'
Civic leaders want to meet Network Rail bosses after being left confused about how a new automatic rail crossing in north Shropshire will work.
Councillors in Wem claimed the barrier at the crossing in Soulton Road, due to be installed next month, could cause "chaos" in the town if it holds back cars too long.
At a meeting of Wem Town Council last night, councillors said they were unhappy that rail officials had failed to attend a specially arranged meeting – and want assurances about how the barriers will operate.
Councillor Pauline Dee said she believed the barriers would stay up and trains be stopped nearby, before traffic was then stopped.
But she said members of the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) had implied during last week's special meeting that the barriers would instead be down and cars stopped until trains pass.
She said: "We need to know what way around it is going to be." Councillor Connie Granger , mayor of the town, added: "It could cause chaos in Wem."
Network Rail's announcement that it is replacing the current manual operation in the signal box at Wem Level Crossing with an automated system sparked fears from councillors that lives could be put at risk.
The rail company is now closing the crossing and diverting traffic over the next two weeks to test the new system, before it comes into place on October 13.
