The closure of the rail crossing where 14-year-old Josh Travis died after being hit by a train has been extended for six months.
Chestnut Grove crossing in Burton Joyce was closed temporarily for 21 days after the death of the former Nottingham Forest academy goalkeeper on Wednesday, November 26.
But with the temporary closure due to expire on December 18, Network Rail has now confirmed that the right of way will remain shut until May 26 next year, after an order was approved by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Police were called to the railway line at around 7pm last Wednesday after a report of a casualty on the tracks.,
Paramedics also attended, but the 14-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was later confirmed that Network Rail had asked Nottinghamshire County Council, which owns the land, to close the crossing, months before Josh’s death.
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The crossing, which Network Rail cannot close without permission, had been the subject of safety concerns for a number of years and, in 2021, safety upgrades were made, with swinging gates installed, the crossing surface upgraded and CCTV cameras put in place.
Videos from the cameras had since evidenced multiple incidents of near misses, leading to further calls for changes to be made or for the crossing to be closed.
But the process can take up to six months, due to the need to consider safety, rights of way and community impact.
The council had begun an informal public consultation less than a week before the incident, which was, and still is, due to conclude on December 22.
In an update on Thursday, December 4, Trent Valley Conservative Gedling borough councillors Sam Smith and Mike Adams announced the closure had been extended.
They added: “For the avoidance of doubt, we will not support it reopening without a bridge being built.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “A temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) for the public footpath over Chestnut Grove level crossing has been approved by the local authority.
“This will come into effect on December 18, immediately following the emergency closure period, and lasts until May 26, 2026. Our application for the crossing to be permanently closed will continue to follow the local authority’s process in the meantime.”
The incident is currently still being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).
A spokesperson for RAIB said: “The RAIB sent a team of inspectors to Burton Joyce in Nottinghamshire to the site of accident which occurred on a footpath level crossing.
“Our inspectors continue to gather evidence as part of the process of conducting a preliminary examination, and a decision on any further action will be taken once evidence has been reviewed.”
Nottinghamshire County Council was also contacted for comment.
