THE railway level crossing at Cross Hills is indeed a major problem – a bridge solution would be excellent.

I can only see one way in which the huge cost of a bridge could be met and that is to allow a substantial housing development on nearby land and get the builder to pay the bridge costs as part of the deal.

Of course this would generate more traffic, and there would be objections – no-one seems to want new houses anywhere near them – but I suggest that this is the way to achieve the bridge solution.

By the way, when travelling in Europe I note that no other country’s railway administration sees the need for crossing barriers to come down for road traffic so long before the train actually passes – it seems to be a peculiarly British ‘elf n safety’ thing that traffic has to be held up for six, or is it seven, minutes before each train.

JOHN HEATON Ickornshaw Cowling