FRIENDS of LONG ROCK MEXICO CROSSING

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Minutes of Meeting 04 04 2013 Present: Rob Nance, Nick Tregenza, Helen Eynon, Carolyn Trevivian, Mike Bott, Richard Thatcher 1. Official Letter from CC Legal Dept: This letter (re extension of closure, while CC examines NRs submission for extinguishment) will be issued Tue 09.04.13 (CC Cllr Carolyn Rule informed CT) & will include the submission statement from NR. 2. Ludgvan Parish Council: HE, RN, RT & CT will attend next LPC meeting, Wed 10.04.13. Although LPC says its supportive, we have seen very little evidence of action. Discussed forthcoming elections, HE will find out who is standing & inform rest of group. 3. FOI request to CC for Mz Bridge area accidents: Four accidents in five yrs to 2012, two of them serious & one right on the road bridge itself (unsurprisingly). This doesnt include the recent one where part of the bridge was knocked down by a vehicle. 4. Legal Representation: Found a lawyer who appears to have the experience & expertise we need, away at the moment, back Tue 09.04.13, says if he doesnt feel that he is our most suitable choice, he will find someone who is. CT will speak to him Tue 09.04.13 & arrange meeting. We discussed lots of questions to ask, eg: how we can prepare for enquiry, how to prove alternatives are not viable, is it possible to obtain injunction to lift closure during enquiry period, etc. 5. ORR: NT will write to ORR again about the figures for serious accidents on road bridge. 6. Police: RN will get back to Tony Hogg & local force, as no response yet received. 7. Coroner: NT suggests he write again to explain that others (RAIB, ORR, etc) have backed down. They probably wont reply, but when/if consultation happens, it may have had useful influence. 8. Letter from Pat Agbarakwe, NR: Full of inaccuracies, reproducing the same old statements trotted out before, that we have already demonstrated are wrong. Says closure isnt detrimental & there is a very good access point a short walk away. Shows lack of communication within NR. NT will send letter to Andrew George MP, put on fb & send to Ian Prosser of ORR with notes. 9. Carolyn Rule: CT arranging time & date to meet. 10. Health & Safety Executive: HSE is clear that zero risk is not attainable or desirable, possibly see if they would comment on the policy of NR and John Smith, Dfts Rail Safety Advisor. 11. Day of Action: Suggested by Jane Bailey some time ago, but we have not heard of a date for this. Could involve rights of way statements, help with drafting letters for people (including local businesses). 12. Future: We expect that this will go to an enquiry, which would involve the Planning Inspectorate, which is likely to take a more reasoned stance than the CC employees dealing with the issue presently. Individuals at CC are likely to want this case to go to enquiry because they are too scared of any potential liability to take the rational course of action & reopen the crossing, despite the overwhelming wishes of the people, the clear evidence presented to them & the increased dangers the closure puts Long Rockers in.