WALKING groups are set to fight plans to close public access to level crossings.

National Rail is proposing to close about 60 level crossing to the public and has launched a public consultation over the plans.

The crossings in south Essex which could be closed under the plans include Ferry Crossing and Brickyard Farm Crossing, both in Benfleet and Motorbike Crossing, in Basildon.

The potential closures form part of Network Rail’s wider plan to close more than a hundred level crossings across East Anglia.

The Ramblers, the UK’s walking charity, and walking groups are opposing the Network Rail plans.

Graham White, 73, from Canvey and member of South East Essex Ramblers, said the closures will cause difficulties for walking groups.

He said: “It will just mess up a lot of walks. If these are closed we will have to find alternative routes.

“It will cause big trouble for us because we may have to stop our walks when we get to level crossing which are closed to the public. We just don’t want them closed off. I think is a real shame.”

During a consultation about the closures in 2017, Ramblers successfully campaigned to have 22 level crossings saved from closure.

However, another consultation has now begun about 60 closures.

Tompion Platt, Ramblers director of advocacy and engagement, said: “Some of these proposals are fair and provide convenient diversions to bridges and other crossing points. However, the alternative routes provided for half the proposed closures are unacceptable, with the worst diversions taking walkers on to roads without pavements. Another of our key concerns is the proposal to push these diversions through en masse, which makes it difficult for organisations like the Ramblers to voice their concerns comprehensively.

“Taking away the tranquillity of an off-road rural walk and replacing it with traffic noise and fumes is bad enough, but being forced onto a main road on a diversion and passing vehicles going at 50 or 60 miles an hour is frightening.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “The Essex inquiry into level crossing closures is on-going and we are putting our case forward. We can’t say anything further while the inquiry is underway.”