"It really needs something like the rubber matting they have at Inglewood, the way it is here, it is impossible to get the wheels of a pushchair or wheelchair over it smoothly and safely." Marty Trueman says the rail crossing on Regan Street in Stratford is a hazard to any pedestrian trying to cross it with a wheeled item such as a pushbike or mobility scooter.
People get stuck, the height of some of the crossing is too high, so they can't get over quickly or smoothly. That could lead to a tragedy if it isn't fixed.
Splinters and raised nails out of the sleepers are also a concern he adds. "They can cause a puncture easily which again puts people at risk."
Regan Street gets lots of heavy traffic, points out Marty. "It is a State Highway, so there are stock and logging trucks travelling along it, putting plenty of stress on the crossing. It needs to be well maintained."
While the Stratford Press was at the crossing, a mobility scooter user approached us and told us how tricky the crossing could be to navigate. He recalled several instances where he had found himself struggling to get over the sleepers safely. later on, we returned to the crossing and spoke to Tammy Barrett, a mother of three who tries to avoid using the crossing when possible. "I walk from a friend's house to the park and the supermarket once a week, and as well as the pushchair, I have my three-year-old on his scooter and sometimes my four-year-old on his bike. If it isn't wet and we have time, we use the crossing at Seyton instead as that is easier. If we have to use this one, I have to list the pushchair up a bit to get over easily, and tell the kids to slow down. If they don't they topple off as they hit the sleepers. We also have had a few punctures on my son's bike and I think that is from the loose nails you see."
