Village uproar as railway works go ahead – DNG Online Limited

MAINTENCE work on the Cove level crossing in Kirkpatrick Flemming will go ahead this weekend despite objections from residents, business owners and Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Network Rail is closing the B7076 at Newington to Irvington from

2.30 am until 9 am on Saturday and again from 8 pm on Saturday night until 12 pm on Sunday.

Concerns were raised by residents and business owners earlier this month about the high levels of disruption the closure would cause during the bank holiday weekend.

Community members and a council official met with representatives of Network Rail at the level crossing on Monday to discuss the road closure and Network Rail’s lack of communication with the community.

Kirkpatrick Flemming Community Council chairman Stephen Muir told the Annandale Observer: “The Cove estate residents and businesses are the ones suffering because they’re hasn’t been any notifications throughout the planning of the works apart from some notices on fences and gates.

“We want to work with Network Rail and help them to overcome these problems for the future but they also have to work and communicate with us.”

Since the meeting on Monday, Network Rail have released new information about the closure which states: “The Cove level crossing will be open for pedestrians and traffic between 9 am to 8 pm on Saturday May 27. The crossing will be handed back fully operational from midday on Sunday 28 May.

“A diversionary route has been agreed to facilitate 24hr access to the caravan park and surrounding area. Emergency services have been notified.

“Working on the railway at night or where access times are available offers the safest environment for our teams and causes the least disruption to our passengers and freight trains.

“Improving Cove Level Crossing is essential to minimise risk to the railway, and to the local community. Once complete, the improvements we make will have a long-term benefit for many years to come and will also reduce the number of maintenance days required.”