Barriers recommended for Aviemore steam railway crossing
A steam railway crossing barrier at the north end of Aviemore is being recommended for approval tomorrow.
It forms part of the final go-ahead for a long-running controversial housing scheme in Dalfaber Woods.
If erected, the half barriers will finally bring to an end many years of community concerns about the safety of the current Dalfaber crossing used by the Strathspey Steam Railway services.
It will also signal the end of the housing saga that has been in the pipeline since 2006.
The creation of the crossing has been welcomed especially with more traffic than ever using the crossing.
A serious accident occurred in spring 2005 when a Toyota Micra being driven by local woman Val Anderson was hit by a train and taken 100 metres down the line.
She had to be cut from the wreckage and suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.
A spate of near misses has been reported by motorists over the years.
Police and the Strathspey Railway Charitable Trust have also raised their concerns about drivers running the lights and ignoring warning bells.
Aviemore-based Davall Developments is planning on building nearly 100 more houses east of the Strathspey Steam Railway line in Dalfaber Woods.
The installation of the half barrier is part of the matters specified in the planning conditions.
Members of the Cairngorms National Park's planning committee will also be asked to sign off arrangements for the 19 affordable homes and the reinstatement of Dalfaber farmhouse as part of the conditions.
The matters specified applications will be heard tomorrow at Nethy Bridge Community Hall. The meeting starts at 11am.
