The plan for a 'timebomb' level crossing that's divided opinion in a Greater Manchester village

A proposal to close off a ‘dangerous’ level crossing in has divided opinions in a Greater Manchester village. Moorgate Halt Crossing in Uppermill, which leads to the popular Moorgate Quarry walking spot would be replaced by an underpass currently in a 'treacherous' state further down the track under the plans.

The change would be a part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), which will see the train route between Manchester, Leeds and Huddersfield electrified, as well as improving accessibility and train services at stations like Greenfield.

The works will make trains ‘faster, more regular and greener’, according to a TRU spokesperson. But with speeds reaching up to 80mph, it would also 'intolerably' increase the risk of an accident at Moorgate Halt, some claim.

A neglected public underpass 440m - around a six minute walk - south of the crossing could ‘keep people safe and off the tracks’ if developed by the scheme, bosses say.

Views in the village are split.

“Not impressed,” an elderly lady told the Local Democracy Reporting Service outside the Saddleworth Museum, where TRU were holding a public consultation on Thursday, November 28. “It’ll spoil the walk. People have gone across there without any problem for years so I don’t understand why they feel they have to move it.”

Down the road on Moorgate Road, which leads to the crossing, regular visitors from nearby Grasscroft said walkers ‘weren’t happy’ about the change.

“A lot of the ramblers use it," one said. "All the walking clubs don’t want it moving because it’s blocking a public right of way."

John Walton, a member of the Oldham Ramblers, has been fighting the change for months, defending the ‘ancient public footpath’ which he says has ‘been in place since