MORE than two years of campaigning and negotiations to improve safety at Watchet's Goviers Lane railway crossing was celebrated in style this week.

A train journey, a ribbon cutting and the unveiling of two plaques marked the official opening of a new chicane system which has replaced controversial self-closing gates.

The £66,000 project - a partnership between West Somerset Council, West Somerset Railway, Watchet Town Council and Somerset County Council - is designed to provide a safe crossing for both pedestrians and the railway but, crucially, make it easier for disabled users.

The previous gates were installed in July 2010 and replaced a vandal-hit warning lights system.

But they sparked a 400-signature petition calling for their removal after they proved difficult for wheelchair users to negotiate.

And feelings ran high when local campaigner Jim Kelly was injured and subsequently died after his motorised scooter tipped over on the dogleg pathway of the seaward side of the crossing.

Mr Kelly's fight for the improvements was remembered with the unveiling of two plaques in his memory on either side of the crossing, bearing his name and the inscription: 'Have a safe crossing'.

They were unveiled by close family friends Margaret and Phil Moulder, with words written by Mr Kelly's daughter Cara, on behalf of her and her sister Sonja, who both live in Belgium, and the rest of his family, read by another friend Vincent Woods.

They thanked everyone who had helped make the safe crossing possible.

"Our dad would have been very happy and proud to see this," said the family's speech.

"He knew very well that when people work together and have a positive attitude and don't give up, they together can achieve beautiful results, such as this new crossing."

John Irven, who helped broker the partnership solution as a 'community stakeholder', gave the opening speech on behalf of local residents and paid tribute to the WSR and all the partners involved.

"I believe this project to be a 'best practice example' of how partnership working can really make a difference," he said.

"Although the Equalities Act 2010 can help us learn how to focus on meeting the needs of disabled and disadvantaged groups, it is only the leadership of individuals and all their groups working together that can turn this into successful reality."

Mr Irven said the crossing now belonged to Watchet.

"I ask all of us as a community to ensure that our crossing is used safely and properly and is kept in a condition that we can all continue to be proud of."

In his speech, WSR chairman Humphrey Davies highlighted the importance of the crossing to the safe working of the heritage line.

A red ribbon marking the official opening was cut by local disabled resident Linda Stacey, who had tried out an early prototype of the chicane system when it was still in the planning stage.

She and other disabled users were then able to test out the WSR's Lorna Doone coach - specially adapted for wheelchairs and motorised scooters - as community representatives and officials enjoyed a train trip to Minehead and back.

Refreshments on board were served by a team from Watchet's Phoenix Centre.

Members of Watchet Conservation Society also played a part in making the day a success by completing a planting scheme around the crossing in time for the official opening.

The organisation received match funding from Watchet Town Council, along with other donations of plants and materials.

The design of the scheme was drawn up by society chairman Molly Quint and members Sheila Frewin and Jayne Hall, with much of the preparation and planting carried out by Malcolm Davy.

Photos: Steve Guscott