Lose it or folk will still use it

Ngatai Rd resident John Buck at the controversial point where a council walkway crosses the pedestrian railway crossing in Otumoetai.

There is a hint of fairy dust in KiwiRail's controversial proposal to close a city pedestrian railway crossing .

It says the shortcut linking the end of Beach Rd with Ngatai Rd is an illegal fixture in the rail corridor and is one of the top 10 most unsafe pedestrian railway crossings in New Zealand.

Zero harm manager Peter Dix argued that the visibility of trains coming from town was poor and it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in earthworks and installing a proper pedestrian crossing to fix the problem.

All age groups cross the tracks and children wearing music ear plugs and elderly with limited mobility are most at risk from a train.

As far as residents in the area are aware, there has never been an accident at this crossing and they are united that it should stay.

The walkway, which descends from Ngatai Rd and links into the Seaway Tce cul-de-sac, is popular with elderly people, especially those walking their dogs and they turned out in force this week to oppose the "arbitrary" closure of the shortcut.

This is not the first time that moves have been made to close the track. Several years ago the council tried to close it but backed off after a community outcry.

Now it's KiwiRail's turn.

It is understandable KiwiRail should want to close the walkway, which it can without council approval, to reduce the risk of injury and underline the fact that it is an illegal crossing, to reduce any legal liability.

The problem is that unless the walkway is completely removed, then people will continue to use it.

In fact, the publicity highlighting its existence will probably encourage more people to do so.