Rail crossing ‘danger’ at site for nearly 1,000 homes highlighted

A group of residents have consistently raised concerns about two level crossings on a busy passenger and freight line which borders the Manor Farm development in Bessacarr, Doncaster.

They claim lives will be put at risk unless an underpass or bridge is built, but say no provision has been made by housebuilder Persimmon in plans for the first phase of 276 new homes.

According to protesters, figures produced by Network Rail show that the chance of an accident happening on the crossings increases by a factor of 100 as soon as houses are occupied on the site.

Persimmon Homes says it has made arrangements to build a new crossing, but not until Christmas 2015, a date which campaigners from the Bessacarr and Cantley Forum say is unacceptably late.

Forum spokesman Phil Midgley said he and other members of the group planned to attend a planning meeting at Doncaster Council tomorrow, where the first phase is set to be given final approval.

He said: “According to the paperwork, no action on the level crossings will be taken until the 100th house is built. We think the crossings should be sorted out before any house is built.

“As far as we are concerned it is an absurd situation, because Network Rail have told us that the risks are immediately much greater as soon as people start living in the area.

“We are going to speak at the planning meeting in a bid to appeal to the better judgment of the members of the committee.

“If they agree to this they are putting the community at risk and we are not sure that it a decision that they want to make.”

At present the Manor Farm site is vacant. Before the land was bought by Persimmon it was agricultural, and has since been used for recreation and dog walking by local residents.

Persimmon Homes won permission for the Manor Farm project in January 2010 after the scheme went to a public inquiry and was referred to Ministers.

The company has repeatedly said it has tried to work with local residents, both over concerns on the rail crossings and worries about a high-pressure gas pipeline which crosses the site,

A second group of protesters will also attend tomorrow’s meeting after planning officers recommended approval for a plan which could see a former quarry turned into a site for travelling show people.

A group was set up this spring after Doncaster-based showman Roger Tuby submitted plans for a showpeople’s accommodation park on the site of a former quarry in the Hatfield area.

Controversy was sparked last December when people who live near the proposed site heard of plans which could see it transformed into a site for 10 or more families.

A protest was held at the site on Friday morning, and members of the group are also expected to speak at Tuesday’s meeting to express concerns over what they have called “a new village” in what they feel should be open countryside.

Planners are unilkely to halt the site’s development however, and in a report to tomorrow’s meeting say: “The principle of the development is consistent with local and national planning policy.

The Ecological Management Plan and Landscaping will ensure that the effects of the proposal on the ecology and visual impact of the site are mitigated.

“The proposed change of the use of the site will contribute towards the unmet need in the borough for travelling showpeople.

“Full consideration has been given to the comments and concerns raised and as such, on balance of all the material planning issues, it is recommended that planning permission be granted.