Thank you again for your support, this petition has now achieved nearly 1000 signatures in just over 2 days! 

I have now received a letter from Network Rail (see photo and below).  They apologise for the way they have handled the situation and say that although the crossing will be closed for Engineering work over the Easter weekend it will reopen after Easter while they work towards a long term solution with the Council and local residents.

Although I hope this means that there will be a satisfactory outcome for all in the end it is uncertain what will happen in the long term.  I therefore plan to keep the petition open for now so there is a means of updating everyone when we know more about future plans.

Thank you again for your support,

Emily

Re the letter, in case you can't read it in the photo here is the text.

The letter is from John Halsall, Route Managing Director, Network Rail Infrastructure Limited amd os dated 11 April 2019

The text of the letter is as follows:

"Dear Resident

Can I start by apologising for the situation that we have generated with respect to the Angerstein footpath (Farmdale Road) crossing. We have approached what was a well-meant intervention, in terms of the safety of the public, in the wrong way, and for that I am sorry.

We are working out how we can rectify the situation, within the bounds of our statutory obligations to protect the safety of the public. I can confirm that as a first step we will not be permanently closing the footpath crossing immediately after the bank holiday weekend of 20/21 April 2019.  We will need to block the crossing over that weekend as we undertake engineering works, to protect the public from engineering activity, but the crossing will not be permanently closed at that point.

Over the last 18 months we have engaged with the local authority, but it would appear not always with the right part.  Clearly this process has not been good enough, and we are therefore committing to work closely with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and local residents to establish the best solution we can collectively achieve while meeting our statutory safety obligations.

I need to reiterate that we have embarked upon the process for the best of reasons.  The risk to the public at the crossing will increase due to engineering changes that are being made following previous operational incidents and with the anticipated increase in freight traffic.  We take this matter very seriously.

I sincerely apologise once again for the poor engagement and will update you further when we have a clear plan confirmed with the local authorities and local residents.

Yours faithfully

John Halsall

Route Managing Director,

South East Route

James Forbes House

27 Great Suffolk Street

London

SE1 0NS