RAIL bosses have unveiled their latest plans for the controversial pedestrian crossing at Wareham railway station.

These plans, which received a mixed response from Wareham residents, went on display at a question and answer session in the town hall last week.

Now it looks likely the proposals will be officially lodged with Purbeck District Council by the end of this month.

Subject to approval, the enhanced pedestrian crossing - essentially a ramped footbridge at the site of Wareham station's existing stepped footbridge - could start being built by April next year.

Network Rail has wanted to close the pedestrian crossing at Wareham railway station for a number of years. Once it was even named, after a study of potential 'near misses', as one of the country's most dangerous crossings.

However, campaigners - who say it is part of the main route linking Wareham to Northmoor - are quick to point out nobody has ever been seriously injured on the crossing.

Last year more than 2,200 people signed a petition calling for the existing surface level crossing, which is controlled by locking gates and a security guard, to be retained.

However, in a bid to cut the £120,000 a year running costs, they suggest linking the gates to the railway's signalling system.

Dorset County Council's Wareham ward member, Cllr Beryl Ezzard, said: "At the moment many vulnerable residents, children in buggies and pedestrians with limited mobility, and cyclists, use the level crossing.

"The bridge over the railway line has to be accessed by steps when the gates are closed. In the future, with extra trains scheduled, the level access will be more limited.

"Adding ramps to the current bridge will provide a safer route across the railway line 24-hours a day."

Designers say these latest proposals, to add new ramps to the station's existing footbridge, includes ramps that are shorter than previous designs.