Renewed funding for Thurston railway station safety and access study after Network Rail failed to carry out initial one

Renewed funding has been accepted for a study into safer and more convenient access at Thurston railway station, after Network Rail failed to complete the initial study within the two-year time limit.

The renewal of £100k of funding for a feasibility study at Thurston railway station was agreed on by Mid Suffolk Council’s cabinet today, as the funding made available in 2020 will expire this month.

Under the newly agreed funding, Network Rail will again have two years to complete the feasibility study – something questioned at today’s meeting.

Liberal Democrat councillor John Field said: “A two-year wait for a feasibility study is ridiculous.

“Is it time to put pressure on Network Rail? It seems this is a public body that is just not performing.

“This study needs to be done now, and one method of putting pressure on would be withdrawal of funding.

“Is the cabinet really happy with the time this is taking?”

The feasibility study was planned in 2020 in light of housing development in Thurston, leading more people to use the station. It intends to guide work to improve safety, interchange facilities and access to railway services, and make it easier to run more or longer train services – through the removal of the crossing near the station.

In November 2020, a boy’s bicycle was clipped by a freight train as he rode across the crossing. He was uninjured, but it led to calls for improvements to safety in the area.

In response to Cllr Field’s comments, cabinet member for planning, Conservative councillor David Burn said: “No, I am not happy with the progress. I think we should perhaps try to increase the pressure.

“We could look at the two-year period allowed for Network Rail to undertake the study, and see whether that is an over-long allowance.”

Andy Mellen, leader of the Green and Liberal Democrat group of councillors at Mid Suffolk Council, said: “It is extremely disappointing that Network Rail have failed to complete a feasibility study on Thurston station in the two years that CIL funding has been available.

“How long can such an exercise take? The current track crossing is not safe. A young man was struck by a train there last year and narrowly escaped serious injury.

“Network Rail need to pull its finger out and make a plan for proper, safe access to the Westbound platform.”

The recommendation agreed on unanimously by the cabinet was adapted during the meeting to take account of the concerns around Network Rail’s progress. It was added that Cllr Burn, assistant director for planning and building control, and Thurston ward members would collaborate in writing a covering letter to Network Rail for the project, which could set out expectations.

The funding was agreed on as part of the community infrastructure levy (CIL) expenditure programme. The amount of money provided for the study remained at £100k, but where it will come from was moved – from the ringfenced infrastructure fund used in 2020 to the strategic infrastructure fund.

CIL expenditure is money provided by charges levied on developers in an area, which is used by the council for infrastructure projects they deem important in that area.

CIL funding of £20,567 for a play area at Ringshall was also approved at today’s cabinet meeting. CIL funding already decided on – £9,758 for recreation ground entrance infrastructure and picnic tables at Botesdale – was noted.