PRESSURE is to be turned up against a rail company, following their controversial plans to close a bridge – that residents fear will lead to ‘traffic chaos.’

Network Rail, as part of its ongoing consultation into the proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow, have announced that they intend to close Chequers Bridge, Langley, as part of the development.

At a recent full council meeting, councillors approved a cross-party resolution to turn up the pressure on Network Rail to abandon their closure plan, or else provide alternate routes at their own expense.

The bridge was previously closed by the council as part of a highly controversial traffic experiment which lead to mass congestion in an already busy part of the town. Many councillors highlighted the experiment as proof of the foolishness of the proposal.

Cllr Ted Plenty (Lab), of Langley St Mary ward, explaining the proposal, said: “This closure will have an adverse affect on Langley and the surrounding area. Last time the bridge was shut, traffic was stretching back to Richings Park – which will also affect the environment, at a time when we are supposed to be improving air quality in this area. Just think of the miles of traffic.

"Network Rail claim there will not be a significant affect on the area. That is nonsense. All they offer in mitigation is that they ‘might’ promise some junction changes. They are trying to do this on the cheap.”

Cllr Amarpreet Dhaliwal (Con), also of Langley St Mary ward, added: “Langley residents won’t benefit from this rail link – the train won’t stop there. When the bridge last closed, I had residents tell me how it prevented them from leaving their homes, and ambulance staff tell me that it delayed them from reaching emergency calls.”

Cllr Wayne Strutton, leader of the Tories, pointed out: “When they first came to us, they said there was no need to close Market Lane.”

Leader of the council, Cllr James Swindlehurst, added: “We should really get them to build a bridge bigger and better than the one we have, one large enough to have freight pass underneath it, so that HGV’s have another route out of Langley.”

The motion was passed unanimously.