Firstly, residents and others opposed to the closure of the crossing are meeting on zoom at 8.30 tonight.  If you have not already done so and wish to join us please send an email to angersteincrossing@gmail.com requesting a link.

Secondly, Network Rail sent me an email to circulate the day after their meeting.  I felt their email left out two important promises they made and suggested they amend it before I circulated it.  The points left out were:

• that nothing will happen immediately
• that answers will be given to all the questions asked in the zoom chat, in particular a promise for more details on the alternatives and why Network Rail think they are unsuitable.

To date I have not received a reply.

The email from Network Rail read as follows:

Angerstein Level Crossing Closure – Please share this message from Network Rail

Thanks to everyone who joined us last night (17 June), for the information session about the forthcoming closure of Angerstein level crossing. 

Since 2019 we have been exploring options available to improve the safety of the crossing so it could remain open to the public. This process has now come to an end and the conclusion reached is that there are no, other than closure, reasonably practicable risk mitigation measures open to us to make this crossing safe and therefore we will be proceeding to close it.

Our decision to close the crossing is primarily dictated by a significant increase in its use and numerous safety issues, we have recorded with potentially very significant consequences in terms of both public safety as well as operational efficiency of the railway, inter alia, repeated criminal trespass onto the line of the railway and/or cable theft. 

Understandably, many residents were extremely concerned and frustrated that the crossing would no longer exist and expressed concerns over the safety and accessibility [we do not know about risk, nor do they] of the alternative route via Woolwich Road.  We understand the width of the footway underneath the railway bridge along Woolwich Road was a major concern for crossing users.  We’re really keen to work with Greenwich council on identifying and supporting improvements for pedestrians to alleviate the concerns raised.  We are escalating our communications with them, in an effort to work together to improve the route which public will now use.  

John Moss-Coleman
Community Relations Manager

Network Rail Southern Region

James Forbes House, 27 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0NS