Campaigners fighting plans to replace a Coventry level crossing with a road bridge say they are hopeful that the government will throw out Railtrack’s application.

Members of the Bridge Action Group in Westwood Heath and Tile Hill joined city councillors and Coventry South MP Jim Cunningham on a visit to Transport Minister Keith Hill earlier this week.

They told the minister and civil servants of their frustrations at not being properly consulted by Railtrack over the changes.

Railtrack want to close the level crossings at Tile Hill and Canley stations because track improvements will increase the barriers’ “downtime”.

They have applied to the government for permission to build a footbridge at Canley and a road bridge at Tile Hill.

But campaigners say they have not been fully consulted about the changes and argue that Railtrack have not demonstrated that they have considered a full range of options.

Studies by the rail firm admit that there will be more traffic using Cromwell Lane as a result. But council officers say the changes will have a far wider impact, and this has not been addressed.

Vic Pearce, of the Bridge Action Group, which was formed last year when Railtrack’s proposals were announced, said he was hopeful that the government would step in.

He said:

“The minister has to be neutral, but he asked some good questions and I could see that he was taking in what we were saying.

Mr Pearce, who lives in Trevor Close, Westwood Heath, said he was not fighting the proposals solely because he lived near the station.

He said:

“We want to be sure that Railtrack have considered all the options.

“Whenever we have approached Railtrack either as a group or as individuals they have been very dismissive.

“Their consultation wasn’t a consultation at all – it was an exhibition, trying to justify their proposals.”

The group has drawn up a series of ideas to solve the problem of cars crossing the railway line without causing traffic chaos.

They include

• Having a bridge or tunnel at Mitchell Avenue in Canley and a footbridge at Tile Hill.
• Keeping the crossing in use but adding a footbridge
• Having a footbridge but no crossing at Tile Hill
• Looking for other suitable sites for a bridge or tunnel

Mr Pearce said: