A ‘DANGEROUS’ level crossing where two people have died in 30 years and there has been a series of ‘near misses’ is set to be closed.

Bailey Lane crossing in Grange opened in 1857 to take walkers from the south Cumbria town across the Furness Line onto its famed Edwardian promenade.

It has remained closed temporarily since last year after being declared a danger by Network Rail.

But attempts to have it closed for good were successful this week when Cumbria county councillors agreed lives were at risk if it were to remain a right of way.

Members of the authority’s development control committee heard that there had been two fatalities on the crossing, which is located next to a children’s play area, since 1988.

These included an elderly lady and a three-year-old girl who had been killed instantly after she was hit by a train.

Campaigners for its closure, including Network Rail, claimed the number of near misses by people behaving irresponsibly on the line had increased significantly in recent years - with one incident eight months ago causing serious distress to the train driver who had been unable to return to work since.

The committee heard that residents living nearby regularly witnessed people crossing the line while listening to music on headphones or while reading content on their mobile devices.

Dr Jane Irving, who had been a GP in the town for 35 years, spoke in favour of closure.

She said: “During that time I have attended two fatalities on this crossing.

“One I will remember always, it was a young girl on a sunny afternoon who skipped just two paces ahead of her parents and was killed.

“Since that dreadful day nothing has changed.

“It could happen again this weekend.

“I would not like to have that on my conscience or on the conscience of our town.”

The route onto the town’s prom will instead take walkers along a short pathway to a £1.5 million purpose built underpass constructed by Network Rail in 2005.

Council planning officers had recommended the level crossing remain open but councillors disagreed.

Cllr John Mallinson said: “The fact that there are other pedestrian crossings that are unsafe to some degree does not mean we shouldn’t close this one. It’s my belief that the best thing we can do is to keep the gates closed. There may be things that could make it safer, but we can’t eradicate that risk.”