The crossing, at Crescent Road crossing between Birkdale and Hillside stations, has automatic barriers on each side but they only cover half of the roadway, which means the track can be accessed even as trains approach.
The site has seen a number of serious accidents and fatalities over the years and a recent online video showed an elderly man who appeared confused simply wandering across the track just prior to a train hurtling past.
Calls have come from several sources for the crossing to be made safe and Labour campaigners in Birkdale discovered through a Freedom of Information request that the site had been recommended for an upgrade to full barriers and an obstacle detection system back in 2015 due to safety concerns, but nothing has been done.
Network Rail responded saying that the safety of all users of the crossing was their priority and that work was intended:
“We are in the early stages of planning to replace the signalling for trains in the area and this includes the installation of full barriers at this level crossing in future. In the meantime, we have installed vehicle enforcement cameras to discourage level crossing misuse.”
Although hailed as a victory in some quarters, Labour’s Southport Parliamentary candidate Liz Savage, who highlighted the FOI information while pressing Network Rail on the issue, has sounded a strong note of caution:
“I know that other campaigners have also been working hard on this issue and I applaud everyone’s efforts but my concern with Network Rail’s response is that it takes us no further than the 2015 risk assessment, as it still gives no timescale for installation of the full barriers recommended.”
“Traffic enforcement cameras meanwhile are only of limited use in this situation and do very little to protect pedestrians or cyclists.”
“In future” is simply not good enough Network Rail, this crossing is dangerous now and has been for some time – what is your timescale to install full barriers?”
Sonya Kelly is one of the local Birkdale residents and Labour campaigners concerned by the crossing and is also unsatisfied by the rail company’s reaction:
“It seems very weak to me. They were saying just the same back in 2015, that in the future it would get an upgrade, but the future can be a very long time. We’ve already been waiting a number of years and during that period people have died.”
“We know what Network Rail say they intend to do, the crux of the matter is when are they doing it?”
Merseytravel Chair Liam Robinson has backed the calls for urgent upgrading of the site and says he will be writing to Network Rail to arrange a meeting:
“I’ve already made clear my full support for the efforts of Liz Savage and the campaigners to have this crossing made safe. Network Rail’s response, though welcome, is lacking in detail and I’ll be contacting them to set up a meeting to insist that a clear timetable is mapped out for this vital safety work.”
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