I AM deeply concerned about the dangerous situation that exists at the railway crossing at Lydney station.

Unauthorised crossings at unmanned level crossings have been a prominent feature nationally in recent weeks due to continuing tragedies and near misses, and this issue has been equally prominent for local campaigners in Lydney, whom I sincerely and wholeheartedly support.

Lydney has full-width barriers and so the problem is not cars weaving across, but pedestrians late for their Cardiff-bound train. Illegal and unsafe crossings by pedestrians have been observed by many of us.

Some of these travellers may think that it is safe to cross, as the Cardiff train will stop at the station before continuing, but there are often other non-stopping trains in both directions, and railway track is notorious, at least in popular culture, for getting your foot caught.

I would like to strongly add my voice to those calling on Network Rail, (the track owners) to address this problem with some urgency.

If the old subway, for whatever reason, is ruled out then a footbridge with wheelchair access should and must be built as a matter of urgency.

I understand that Network Rail own both the track and the land around, so a solution can be achieved with some imagination and moreover consideration to those who use our rail network. Please, we must not wait for a tragedy to occur. Let us not wait for the tragic loss of life before something progressive and positive is achieved.

This is a campaign of such importance to Foresters that I invite my political opponents to also get behind this issue with me.

– Steve Parry-Hearn, Prospective Labour Candidate, Clearwell.