Half barrier level crossings generate significant public risk, says Network Rail's own assessment
Amid a criminal investigation into the tragic death of Kerry Coombes, there are calls for safety concerns at the Station Road level crossings to be addressed.
Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.
On 25 June, Kerry Coombes was killed in an incident at a level crossing at Station Road in Hoghton where a train struck her car. Her daughter was left in a critical condition.
British Transport Police has launched a criminal investigation into the incident, and asked the public not to speculate. They have not commented on the matter in over a fortnight.
But that has not stopped concern over the safety of the crossing, which boils down to the following:
It is a half barrier level crossing with a small window between barriers lowering and the train passing.
There are reports that the lights flash without barriers lowering on a somewhat regular basis.
There is little need for the crossing given how straightforward it is to walk or drive around it.
A petition has now been launched calling for the crossing to close. You can sign that here if you like.
And Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the MP for the area which is home to the crossing, has told us that Network Rail must take the concerns seriously.
Lancashire briefing
🌹 Lancashire County Council has been left disappointed after the county as a whole was snubbed in its 14 bids to be shortlisted for the first ever UK Town of Culture.
Fifteen towns were selected from 398 bids in total but ultimately places like Ilfracombe in North Devon, Great Yarmouth and Grimsby got the nod over the likes of Leyland, Blackburn, Lytham and Burnley.
Each town listed will receive £60,000 towards developing a full bid.
Cllr Ella Worthington, Reform UK’s cabinet member for Civic Pride, Lancashire County Council, told The Lancashire Lead: “While we’re naturally disappointed that no Lancashire towns have been shortlisted for the UK’s first Town of Culture competition, we’re proud of the ambition, creativity and community spirit shown by all those involved in developing bids from across the county.
“Given the level of interest from towns across the country, this was always going to be a highly competitive process. We’d like to thank the local partnerships, organisations, volunteers and residents who dedicated their time and energy to developing the bids and championing their communities.
“Strengthening civic pride is an important priority for Lancashire County Council, and we remain committed to celebrating and supporting the people, places and communities that make Lancashire special.”
🍷 Bosses at a bar accused of failing to tackle music disturbance and bad customer behaviour say it could close if late-night hours for DJs and live acts are cut.
Jabber Khan and Naseem Khan of The Aviary, in Whalley, say they have spent thousands on new sound-control equipment and insulation to cut the noise impact on neighbours.
Some locals say their lives have been ruined by noise and police say the venue has effectively become a nightclub, unsuited to a residential area with terraced streets.
The Aviary was the focus of a premises license review at Ribble Valley Council this week, attended by owners Jabber Khan and Naseem Khan, with Chelsea Chard, the designated supervisor.
Complaints from residents began in 2021 and have continued, but Jabber Khan said: “I feel some comments make us sound a lot worse than the reality. We do not have any fighting, which is common in other licensed premises. There are also reports of vomit and urine on the street. But there is another busy venue nearby. We are not responsible for their customers. We also stop taxis from driving down Queen Street. We’re doing the best we can.
“Yes, we understand the noise issues and we want to work with people on this. Our old sound monitor did not measure bass levels. But we have a new limiter which cuts the sound, if bass goes over a certain level. You are welcome to see it.”
Police Sgt Stephen Dundon said police had 71 reports linked to The Aviary since 2023. The police were not suggesting fighting or serious crime . The issues were noise disturbance and low-level anti-social behaviour.
He said: ” Jabber has conceded that door-staff get abuse when asking customers to be quiet or not smoke. Despite all the interactions, police say there is a sustained problem with music noise, customer behaviour and the management of customers leaving.
“We acknowledge The Aviary has made some changes. But we have limited confidence that they can address the issues. Councillors need to take robust action. The police say Queen Street is not a place for a nightclub. So we need to consider limits to deal with these issues, once and for all.”
Councillors were recommended to consider reducing the hours for amplified music and potentially removing Miss Chard from the supervisor role. They will announce their decision in five days and anyone wishing to appeal will have 21 days.
🎵 The government has rejected criticism of its response to calls for support to secure the future of Preston’s Guild Hall.
BID managing director Mark Whittle denounced the fact that requests for engagement over how to save or replace the mothballed venue – which have included letters from the MPs for Preston and Ribble Valley to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy – have been redirected towards the Arts Council. A 3,300-signature petition organised by the news site Blog Preston has been met with an identikit response.
However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has now defended that approach.
It said: "“Arts Council England is the public body responsible for arts venues and it is absolutely right that they are the first point of contact when seeking support.
“We are committed to supporting cultural venues and we are ensuring that theatres are able to thrive across the country through our £425m Creative Foundations Fund, which will support approximately 300 capital projects in arts venues [nationwide], as part of the £1.5bn Arts Everywhere Fund.
“This is in addition to a five percent uplift this financial year for National Portfolio Organisations, which will help deliver high quality arts and cultural activity in every region of the country.”
Half barrier level crossings generate significant public risk, says Network Rail’s own assessment
By Luke Beardsworth
Half-barrier level crossings like the one where beloved Lancashire mum Kerry Coombes was killed are a significant public risk, according to Network Rail’s own safety guidance.
Kerry, 33, was a mother, daughter, sister and partner who was killed in an incident at the Station Road level crossing in Hoghton on 25 June.
Kerry was a Lancashire County Council social worker and a coach and committee member at Lostock Hall Juniors Football Club. Her death left a community in mourning and over £13,000 was raised to support her loved ones in the aftermath.
Her daughter, who was eight, was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
In the aftermath, British Transport Police launched a criminal investigation into the incident. They have, so far, refused to answer The Lancashire Lead’s questions on who is being investigated and on suspicion of what crimes.
Both Network Rail, who manage the crossings, and the government’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch, are involved in the investigation. The Lancashire Lead understands that a nearby resident has passed CCTV footage of the incident to British Transport Police.
But Network Rail’s own assessment of automatic half barrier level crossings - such as the one in place at Station Road in Hoghton - says that the crossings generate ‘a proportionally high level of risk’.
According to their own figures, the crossing type accounts for just 6% of the network but carries 32% of the risk.
The safety report, seen by The Lancashire Lead and published well before the incident in Hoghton, says:
“Whilst generating a proportionally high level of risk, automatic half barrier crossings do offer user convenience through minimised barrier down times. This has the potential to reduce road delays and congestion.
“In contrast, however, the opportunity for user error or deliberate red light violations and barrier weaving is always present and offsets much of this benefit. Consequently, the location of half barrier crossings is critically selected.”
There is now a petition calling on Network Rail and Lancashire County Council to close the level crossing.
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