COUNCILLORS have deferred a plan to replace a level crossing in Batley with a footbridge following concerns that local people’s objections had been overlooked.

Network Rail wants to replace the manned Lady Anne Level Crossing, which links Howley Street with Stoney Lane, with a footbridge, ramp and steps.

The £2.7m project is part of electrification improvements within the mammoth £1.56bn Transpennine Route Upgrade.

But local campaigners who have fought the scheme since 2015 say concerns about pedestrian safety as well as road safety issues have not been addressed.

Those fears were highlighted on Thursday at a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-Committee.

Clr Habiban Zaman (Lab, Batley East) said locals had “huge concerns” about the proposed loss of the manned crossing, which has a segregated footway and lockable gates for vehicular use controlled by a signaller.

She slammed public meetings hosted by Network Rail as “a tickbox exercise” and described a consultation and survey as “a shambles”.

That survey, conducted by Transpennine Express, indicated that 250 people a day use the crossing but Clr Zaman said the real numbers were higher as the survey had been conducted during Covid-19 restrictions.

The committee voted to defer the plan.