FRIENDS OF LONG ROCK MEXICO CROSSING

28 Godolphin Road, Long Rock, Penzance, TR20 8JP

http://www.facebook.com/pages/friendsoflongrockmexicocrossing/388829381211332

Mr Peter Marsh, Interim Corporate Director Environment Cornwall Council County Hall Treyew Road Truro TR1 3AY Dear Mr Marsh

10 Jul 13

Continued Closure of Long Rock Mexico Crossing (Beachfield Barn Crossing) Cornwall Council's (CC) continued closure of the Long Rock Mexico Crossing now exceeds the six months allowed under statute and continues to expose its former users to increased risk, particularly those who are forced by the closure to use the Station House Road bridge route to go east. We, the Friends of Long Rock Mexico Crossing (FOLRMC), are still not aware of any decision on this closure from your department or any statement of your appraisal of the situation or any statement of what improvements are to be made, by whom or when, or any statement of when we may expect your final decision. We are also not aware of any action by CC, according to its own Petition Scheme, to the petition with over a thousand signatures presented to CC on 09.03.13 (four months ago) by the FOLRMC and which is still not shown on CC's petition webpage. Although we are not aware of CC assessing the off-rail risks created by the closure, Ian Prosser, Director of Rail Safety at the Office of Rail Regulation and Mathew McNeil, HM Inspector of Railways, actually came to Long Rock to meet us and walked that route. They were horrified by the risks to which CC's actions have exposed a significant fraction of former users. They were also aware of the problems that arise where suicides are given 'accidental death' verdicts by coroners which lead to false inferences about risk. Consequently the FOLRMC are giving serious consideration to applying to the Magistrates Court for an order requiring CC to unblock this highway immediately in the interests of the safety of the former users of the crossing. We therefore request a meeting with you at any time in the next week at which you could explain your position and comment on our next course of action. Whilst we would be happy to come to your office, we strongly urge you to come to Long Rock so that we can show you the site and the dangers to public safety. Yours sincerely Robert Nance, Friends Of Long Rock Mexico Crossing