Parish councillors are calling for any study into a new railway station in South Craven to investigate ways of bypassing the level crossing at Cross Hills.

Members of Glusburn Parish Council are leading the way by agreeing to donate cash towards the cost of a major study into the re-opening of Cross Hills railway station.

But they are concerned that traffic in the area will grind to a standstill if motorists have to contend with the level crossing.

Parish councillors met with representatives from Railtrack earlier this year to discuss the problem.

They showed railway bosses that the crossing barriers were in the down position 34 minutes in every hour, leading to traffic backing up, especially at peak periods.

Railtrack revealed that could get worse if a new railway station was built and the number of freight trains were increased as planned. "The only solution to help road traffic keep moving would be to bridge the railway," said parish chairman Isobel Westhead.

Glusburn Parish Council has agreed to contribute towards the cost of the £40,000 feasibility study into the re-opening of the station and is hoping other parishes in South Craven will do the same.

The suggestion for parish contributions came from Craven councillor Philip Barrett who said the need for a railway station was the major concern of people in the area.

Glusburn Parish Council is holding a meeting later this year with other parishes to discuss the matter after railway operators refused to contribute.

At the monthly parish meeting, Coun Westhead added: "In the past I have always objected very strongly to giving parish money to a private company.

"But I believe it will be a small price to pay to get it off the ground and at last find out if we're going to have a station or not."

Edward Gee, from the South Craven Road Action Group, told councillors he believed this would put pressure on transport secretary John Prescott to force the rail companies to put money in the pot.

"Until we take this first step then we have no clout," he warned. "It's now or never, I feel. It will be a little bat that we could clout these people with."

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