Transport Secretary Grant Shapps rules crossing near Bury St Edmunds should stay open as footpath

The pedestrian foot crossing which offers a passage across the railway line in Cattishall ‘should be saved from closure,’ the Secretary of State for Transport has ruled.

Grant Shapps has defended this and three other footpath crossings from planned Network Rail closures.

This defence is set to see the crossings stay open, to the delight of West Suffolk Council members who fought to keep the passage near Bury St Edmunds available.

Crossings at Newmarket and Barrow could also survive.

John Griffiths, Leader of West Suffolk Council said: "I am delighted with this outcome, which was built on knowledge of the impact closure would have on local people’s lives.

"In these days of sustainable travel, we successfully argued that the distance and gradient of the proposed diversionary route in Newmarket was too far and too steep and would oblige people to get back into the car."

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