NETWORK Rail finally reopened a public footpath across the main railway line through Rockwell Green at the weekend – at the fourth time of asking.

The path connects The Basins area to Westford and allows people to walk through Linden Meadow, which is now owned by Wellington Town Council.

It was closed more than a year ago and was supposed to have been open again last autumn after Network Rail had finished a nighttime programme of cleaning and replacing ballast on the track through the town.

During the closure Network Rail carried out unannounced work to upgrade the lights and alarm which alert people to approaching trains, and also replaced two concrete steps with a metal staircase.

Two further promises to reopen the crossing were broken with the company first blaming the difficulty in scheduling delivery of materials on a busy track, but then saying train drivers’ strikes meant it could not reach the site.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Marcus Barr welcomed the re-opening of the crossing despite the fact that it was now more difficult to use for people with buggies or mobility issues.

Cllr Barr said: “It is what it is, as people say. We are not going to be able to change it now so we have to make the best of it.

“At least it is open and people can now walk right through the Basins out to Westford again and enjoy a really beautiful area of the town.”