We all call on Network Rail to apologise to the people of Plumpton for the way that it handled the renewal of Plumpton Level Crossing by compensating them for months of disruption. It has admitted that it started work on the signalling prior to receiving Planning Permission which rendered the crossing inoperable.

For four months we have suffered with the road closed, cutting the village in two. Elderly residents couldn't get to the village store which is a life line for them,especially over Christmas. Public and school buses had to be re -routed.

Parents faced massive detours to get their children to primary school every day. The safety of villagers was compromised. Emergency vehicles have had to do detours and, during the recent flooding of parallel roads Plumpton was effectively cut off. Disabled and elderly residents haven't been able to catch the train to go west of the village.

We urge Network Rail to do the right thing and apologise to the village by offering a sizeable donation that can be shared with the businesses that have been affected financially and that can compensate the village in a way that the Parish Council can decide through consultation with residents.

Petition launched by Sarah Osborne, Reg Stone and Katie Wride, January 2016