A new emergency level crossing could be built in Ashtead following a recent incident where people were trapped on their side of the railway line for almost seven hours.

It comes after years of campaigning by residents living in several roads close to Ashtead Common. The only access to their homes is by the level crossing at Ashtead station.

They fear that lives could be lost if emergency services cannot get to their houses in an emergency if the level crossing gates fail.

After the latest incident on September 4, Network Rail is to investigate providing a permanent level crossing at the other end of the station to be used for emergencies or when engineering works are planned.

In the meantime, Network Rail is to write special instructions for its signallers and maintenance teams for Ashtead, and said measures were in place for emergency vehicles to get access, even during a level crossing failure.

In a written response to Councillor Tim Ashton, Network Rail said it would fund and install the emergency crossing but would ask Surrey County Council to link it over the grass verges and on to the roads.

Coun Ashton said: “I am very pleased to have received this response, which is a very positive and a real step forward. The long-suffering residents who live across the line deserve an alternative crossing.

“In the interim, the rewriting of the crossing instructions hopefully will prevent a repetition of the last incident.

“I will be arranging as soon as possible a meeting with Network Rail, with representation from my colleagues from Surrey County Council and Mole Valley Council together with all Ashtead councillors and the Ashtead Residents’ Association, all of whom have also been pressing Network Rail for a solution for a long while.”