Plans to close railway crossing welcomed by teenager’s family

Natasha Elliott was struck by a train as she tried to coax her pet German Shepherd dog off the railway line near Morley in Leeds.

She had been trying to get her dog off the crossing near the station.

The crossing was closed after the accident but now proposals have been put forward for it to be shut permanently.

Natasha’s grandfather Tony Elliott said: “I think permanently closing it would be a good idea in terms of safety.

“Nothing will ever bring Natasha back but if we can stop this happening to anybody else then that would be something at least,” he added.

Infrastructure company Network Rail has now confirmed it is seeking permission from Leeds City Council to make the closure permanent.

As this would involve losing a public right of way, council approval is required – and local residents must also be consulted before the final decision is reached.

Natasha’s father Wayne, speaking about the crossing last October, said: “There might be people that don’t want it to close because they will have to walk that bit further. But if it means that people have to walk 10 minutes more for them to still be sat there at teatime, it’s got to be worth it,” he added.

Last month, a memorial was unveiled to Natasha.

A bust of her head and shoulders – created by Leeds artist Melanie Wilk – was dedicated at the Central Methodist Church on Wesley Street in Morley, a year after her death.

The unveiling took place at a special ceremony attended by her friends and family.

Afterwards, her grandfather Tony Elliott said the sculpture was a fitting memorial to his granddaughter.

He said: “It is like looking at Natasha. It is beautiful, really beautiful.

“Children will look at it and I hope their parents will be able to tell them the story.

“I hope they will tell them never to play on, or go near, the railway – even if their dog goes on,” he added.

Below the statue, on the marble plinth, the memorial includes a moving tribute to Natasha – saying she was a “beautiful young lady with a kind, loving heart and a perfect smile”.

Also pictured are an angel and of Zeus and the inscription ends with the words: “sleep tight our smiling angel in the sky”.