Political opinion with Beccy Cooper MP: Lifting the barriers

I’m sure we would all agree that unduly long waits at our railway crossings are a serious issue across Worthing West.  From delays in getting to work or school, to the impacts on our bus services, businesses and air quality, or just the sheer annoyance of forever being stuck at a barrier with no sign of a train!

Unnecessary waits of sometimes 15 minutes or more are not just an inconvenience, they have direct consequences across our communities, environment and economy. Residents in Ferring, East Preston and Angmering have seen their bus services not only disrupted but cut in response, while the sheer chaos at West Worthing crossing can see polluting traffic gridlocked all the way back to Worthing station. Meanwhile, given the levels of frustration caused, the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians is being put at greater risk.

I recognise that there are no quick, cheap or easy fixes. But the fact that this issue has gone unaddressed for so years many does not mean we should just accept the status quo. As your voice in Westminster, I am determined to keep up the pressure needed to begin the process of resolving it.

Since becoming your MP, I have met with the Transport Secretary, Network Rail, bus companies, West Sussex Highways and most recently Transport Minister Lord Hendy, to explore both short and longer-term solutions.  We discussed, for example, bringing the currently manually operated signalling system into the 21st Century by installing the automated European Safety Train System, allowing barriers to remain up when trains are not on schedule. There is also the option of installing intelligent traffic lights which, along with improved road prioritization, would more effectively manage traffic flow, particularly at West Worthing and Angmering crossings.

I am very pleased to say that Lord Hendy’s response was extremely positive, and he will be directly contacting Southern Rail and Network Rail bosses to help find interim solutions, while my longer-term proposals for increased automation remain on the table.

There have been some extremely positive developments in transport over the past year, not least in bringing Southern Rail back into public ownership. This was not only great news for so many long-suffering passengers but brings with it far greater strategic control. Similarly, bringing those publicly owned operators together with Network Rail into Great British Railways next year, will integrate and streamline planning for future projects like the ones I am suggesting.

Although we are starting to make progress, there are of course obstacles to overcome in terms of funding and timeframe. But with traffic numbers set to increase with every new housing development, delays at our crossings will only get worse if left unaddressed. As your MP I have made this a key priority and will continue to work hard with all those concerned to finally lift those barriers.

As always, you can contact me at [email protected].