Acting Edward Fox icon has forced a council to make U-turn for plans for a controversial railway crossing in his hometown after giving a passionate speech.
The discharged Day of the Jackal Star criticized Network Rail for plans to build a 'horrible' modern crowded bridge on the Victorian station of Grade II-Genotated in Wareham, Dorset, a protest last month.
Mr. Fox, 87, who also played LT Gen Brian Horrocks in the film A Bridge a Bridge a Bridge too far, received enthusiastic applause from 250 people when he encouraged the bureaucrats'.
Dorset Council said earlier that they were planning to work with a network rail, but have now been withdrawn.
Nick Ireland, the leader of the local authority, said that “the power of the opposition of the Wareham community cannot be ignored against earlier proposed alternatives.”
Residents of Wareham, a picturesque city of 6,000, have used a red brick pedestrian bridge and a level transition to cross railway tracks for more than 40 years.
About half of the population of the city lives on the north side of the railroad, with the crossing the only pedestrian route to the city center.
Although there were no accidents at that time, Network Rail said that the intersection is a health and safety risk and wants to replace it with a sloping zigzag bridge.
The locals feared losing access to vital services because they were worried that they were unable to run up the long, uphill bridge.
Acting icon Edward Fox (photo) forced Dorset Council to U-turn on plans for a controversial railway crossing in his hometown after giving a passionate speech
About 250 people attended a protest in which Mr. Fox encouraged the local liberal -Democrat -Member Vikki Slade to 'compete for the community and not at the bureaucrats'
Depicted: the previous plan for a modern crashed bridge on Westham's Grade II mentioned Victorian Station
De Ster played LT Gen Brian Horrocks in the film A Bridge A Bridge Too Far from 1977
During the protest against the bridge earlier this month, Mr. Fox said that the bridge would cause 'irreversible damage' by making 'a permanent spot at the historic station of Wareham'.
He added: 'I challenge the decision makers who are considering a clear bridge to push a wheelchair to a push.
'You can't ask mothers on a wet, cold, terrible night to take their children on a road that is extremely busy.
“It's not only unfair, but criminal bad.”
The Liberal Democrat-Run Dorset Council said that they are now 'resisting the closure' of the level of level because of the 'clear message sent by residents of Westham, including Edward Fox'.
The 87-year-old actor has been living near the city since 1982.
He said: 'This route has been around since Saxon Times and has served people well all the time.
'It is extraordinary and particularly advisable that Network rail proposes to build a sloping bridge at WOEMENHAM station when three similar regulations have failed.
'This would cut the city in two, an extraordinary idea in itself, isolating vulnerable residents for those who would be impossible to use the steep slopes and prevent school children from cycling to school.
Mr. Fox, 87, who played LT Gen Brian Horrocks in the film A Bridge a Bridge a Bridge too far from 1977, led the city -wide rebellion against the controversial railway crossing.
Residents of Wareham, a picturesque city of 6,000, have used a red brick pedestrian bridge and a level transition to cross railway tracks for more than 40 years
“It would be extremely harmful to our charming, historic station and what a bad first impression it would give to visitors who come to this historic area.”
Mr. Ireland announced the U-Turn of Dorset Council and said: 'I recently attended a public demonstration at the intersection next to the local council members, Vikki Slade MP and many other prominent community representatives, including the actor, Edward Fox Obe.
“It was a huge turnout of all ages, with a clear message; Residents of Wareham do not want slopes or lifts to replace the current regulations.
'Our previous approach has been to collaborate with partners to find a solution for this closure, so that access to pedestrians can be stored at this location.
'However, the power of the opposition of the Wareham community against earlier proposed alternatives cannot be ignored.
'So, instead of accepting that the removal of pedestrian level at ground level is inevitable, we are now opposing the closure itself.
He said that the council will not impose a solution in which slopes or lifts are involved and will only take into account proposals that retain pedestrian level at ground level.
The locals feared losing access to vital services because they were worried that they were unable to run up the long, uphill bridge
Dorset Council Uired on plans to modernize the station. Nick Ireland, the leader of the local authority, said that the “power of the opposition of the Westham community against earlier proposed alternatives cannot be ignored
Fox, right, appeared next to Michael Caine, left, and a cast-littered cast in the recount of the disastrous Arnhem campaign of 1977 in 1977
The current crossing at the level costs the taxpayer £ 120,000 a year because the local authority has to be hired.
“We will not spend more taxpayers money to hunt something that the residents of Wareham do not need or want,” Mr Ireland added
'It is not the responsibility of Dorset Council to enable Network Rail to pursue deep unpopular alternative options so that they can close the current intersection.
“We will stand next to the Wareham community and fight the closure because it is good to do.”
Network Rail said: 'We acknowledge the strong attachment that the local community has on Great Ham Level Crossing and are committed to working with everyone to identify a safe, accessible and sustainable long -term solution.
'The safety of our passengers, residents and colleagues is our first priority and the most effective way to remove the risk in Westenham is to completely close the intersection.
'Despite years of efforts to explore safer and fully accessible alternatives – including multiple planning applications and consultations with the community – earlier proposals are not supported by the local planning authority.
'The intersection has a history of abuse, to the point where our supervisor, the office of Rail and Road (ORR), has issued us an improvement message that led to the introduction of electronic gates and crossing servants, funded by Dorset Council.
'Network rail and the ORR are fully aligned that every alternative must be safer and first public safety must be made, and a recent independent report said that only a complete closure and replacement by an accessible bridge with lifts or slopes would completely remove the safety risk.
“Although we know that this proposal is controversial, we are dedicated to work closely with Dorset Council, local stakeholders and the community to find a way ahead.”
