DAY of the Jackal star Edward Fox has described unpopular plans for a new ramped bridge at Wareham as a "permanent blot on our town's historic station"

The actor, who lives locally and regularly uses Wareham railway station, was one of 250 people who packed out a public meeting to address contentious proposals revealed by Network Rail.

Rail bosses have wanted to close the existing surface pedestrian crossing at the station for years. But town residents, who point out the crossing is on the main route linking Northmoor to the town centre, says its closure would affectively 'split Wareham in half'.

Mr Fox said: "This is a vital issue which will affect the day-to-day lives of local residents and have an irreversible impact on the town's future.

"The proposal would also be a permanent blot on our town's historic station."

The latest plans, unveiled earlier this summer, involve the addition of ramps to the station's existing footbridge, which is located close to the surface crossing.

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

Campaigners want these gates to be linked to the signal system, as they are in Poole High Street.

The public meeting, which was called by Mid Dorset & North Poole MP Michael Tomlinson, took place at The Purbeck School.

Afterwards, Mr Tomlinson said: "The number of residents attending on such a wet night and the strong opposition voiced clearly showed the strength of local opinion.

"There are very real concerns that this proposal will split the town in half, some people will simply be unable to get across the railway and that it would be an eyesore.

"The meeting has confirmed the strength of local opinion and I urge the county council to listen to local people's very real concerns."

Residents at the meeting said the proposed ramped crossing would add too much distance to journeys and would be hard to use for elderly, disabled and residents with pushchairs.

Around 1,000 people use the existing crossing daily to get to work and access facilities such as shops, schools, nurseries, doctors, dentists and churches.