A LONG-running campaign to remove or improve controversial safety gates at Watchet's Goviers Lane railway crossing took a step forward this week.

The gates, designed to increase safety at the West Somerset Railway-owned crossing, sparked a wave of protest from local people, including a 400-signature petition.

Users claimed the gates were almost impossible for wheelchair or mobility scooter users, or parents with pushchairs, to negotiate.

One local resident, Jim Kelly, who had been a vociferous opponent since the gates were installed last summer, tragically died after falling from his mobility scooter not far from the crossing - although the WSR has insisted the accident did not happen on railway property.

Now railway chiefs, in conjunction with West Somerset Council, Somerset County Council and Watchet Town Council, have come up with a possible alternative - a chicane system.

Trials were carried out on Wednesday, with local disabled people, mothers with pushchairs and other disadvantaged users testing out the new system.

Regular crossing user Linda Stacey, a buggy user, said it was a great improvement on the gates - "particularly if it can be combined wih improvements to the access ramps, which are currently too steep, and with some additional warning signs," she said.

After the trials were declared a success, WSR chairman Humphrey Davies said it was hoped the chicane solution could be implemented.

The next stage will be to submit the plans to the Office of Rail Regulation for approval.

Mr Davies said the WSR would be doing everything with the inspectorate to try to reduce the timescale, whilst ensuring all safety and regulatory requirements were met.

"Because the railway will be running trains on all days during the period of consultation, we will not be able to tie open the gates as we did in January whilst the railway was closed to all traffic," said Mr Davies.

"This will make us all aim to get the new system approved as soon as it is practically possible."

Mr Davies has recently taken over from retiring chairman Mark Smith and he said he and Mr Smith, along with WSR general manager Paul Conibeare, welcomed the chance to find the right solution for residents and the railway.

He paid tribute to all the campaigners, including local resident John Irven who helped organise the trials and who has been working behind the scenes with the councils and WSR for many months.

Mr Irven said that following an initial period of difficulty, a more positive approach had emerged once the WSR board got involved in trying to tackle the problem.

Meetings between residents, campaigners, the railway and three councils, followed by a visit from the Office of Rail Regulation inspectors to meet local users, had resulted in the WSR working to assess a number of alternatives.

In addition, the district council had been looking at design improvements to the access ramps, the county council has been considering highways issues and together the authorities had also helped with an equalities assessment.

The town council, meanwhile, had been monitoring the situation on behalf of local residents.

"It is really great to see after everyone's efforts that all the relevant groups are now trying to work constructively to prove a common-sense solution for the benefit of all Watchet's community, whilst still meeting the safety requirements."

Photo: Steve Guscott