A THIRD suggestion for a railway crossing has been suggested after residents branded the current scheme a disaster". Brian and Cynthia Pepper, of Morton Street, Royston, have drafted new plans because they believe an underpass would be a haven for anti-s

A THIRD suggestion for a railway crossing has been suggested after residents branded the current scheme "a disaster". Brian and Cynthia Pepper, of Morton Street, Royston, have drafted new plans because they believe an underpass would be a haven for anti-social behaviour. They said claim the current scheme to link the Burns Road estate and the rest of Royston was designed with "drug dealers and muggers in mind". The alternative plan - which has been sent to Herts County Council - is for a ground-level tunnel at the north end of Coombelands estate. The straight tunnel would be constructed under the railway embankment in a field currently earmarked for housing development. County council chief executive Caroline Tapster said options for a "straight-through" subway will be presented to North Herts District Council's Royston area committee and the county council's highways and transport panel. She said such a solution could be suitable, but "may cost more than a simple footbridge". She added that the proposed location for the bridge may not be feasible. "There is a view that locating a crossing point further to the northern end of Coombelands estate will be of limited use to a large number of existing residents," she said. "It is also unlikely that it would have a significant or beneficial effect in stopping the number of illegal pedestrian movements across the railway line." Mr and Mrs Pepper said their proposal "encapsulates the thoughts and concerns of many people in the areas involved". And after more than 20 years in the pipeline, they believe time should be taken over making the right decision. "There will be no going back. The wrong decision now would be disastrous for us all and something which we would live to regret. "This railway crossing is going to be in place for a long time and it is extremely important that we get it right first time.