Users of a Tauranga shortcut linking the end of Beach Rd with Ngatai Rd have asked for a 30-day reprieve from KiwiRail's decision to ban them from crossing the railway line.
The walkway that descends steeply from Ngatai Rd and links into the Seaway Tce cul-de-sac is popular with elderly people, particularly those walking their dogs.
Objections to KiwiRail banning people from crossing the railway line because of safety concerns emerged at a meeting today of the Tauranga City Council.
KiwiRail's zero harm manager Peter Dix said the walkway crossing was illegal and they had been working with the council on its closure for a number of years.
He acknowledged that the community living around the track felt aggrieved but it was an "illegal fixture in the rail corridor".