A TOWN meeting has been called to allow residents to have their say on controversial plans to close the pedestrian level crossing in Wareham.

Feelings have been running high in the town since the news that the crossing between the Wareham and Carey was under threat.

Footage below of an impatient mother ignoring warning lights as a train approached in Wareham

Network Rail says it is “high risk” and one of the worst in the region for “near misses” thanks to widespread misuse.

But residents fighting to save it claim its closure it will cut the town in half and leave disabled and elderly people stranded.

Residents are calling for electronic crossing gates. Proposals to transport people over the lines by bus have failed to convince.

Following a packed town council meeting earlier this month, campaigners have pushed for the public meeting.

Angela Stuart, who runs Carey Post Office, said they invoked their right to convene a meeting, as laid out in the 1972 Local Government Act, by sending a letter signed by six electors to the town council.

She added: “We need to make sure that as many people as possible are made aware that we are going to lose this crossing if we don’t fight for it.”

She said residents had also carried out a survey, revealing around 1,000 people a day use the level crossing.

The public meeting is on Thursday October 29 at the Purbeck School hall, Worgret Road, at 7pm.

It will be an open forum, chaired by the town mayor Audrey Tighe, where anyone on the electoral register in Wareham Town will be allowed to have their say, ask a question or put forward a resolution for consideration at the next meeting of the town council.

MP Annette Brooke is expected to attend and an invitation has been extended to Tim Westwood, Dorset County Council traffic manager.

More Purbeck News