Mother joins protest after son killed at level crossing

A '˜devastated' mother said her son would not have been killed at Shoreham's railway crossing if the subway was still in place.
Tommy Compton who was killed at Shoreham level crossing SUS-160803-173714001Tommy Compton who was killed at Shoreham level crossing SUS-160803-173714001
Tommy Compton who was killed at Shoreham level crossing SUS-160803-173714001

Tommy Ramshaw was hit by a train at around 1am on Saturday, February 27, at the level crossing in Brunswick Road.

Although the circumstances surrounding the incident are being treated as non-suspicious and an inquest is yet to be held, the Shoreham Society, along with family and friends of Tommy, will be marking his memory during a protest to reinstate a subway at the level crossing.

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Tommy’s mother, Jeanette, said she is ‘shocked’ and will be attending the demonstration to show her support.

She said: “His family, friends and the local community are shocked and devastated by what’s happened to my son.

“I believe my son Tommy would still be here if the subway was open.

“I also believe my son waited what seemed like a long time before making that fateful decision.

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“My son has lived in Shoreham all his life and would not have taken this decision lightly.”

Dozens of flowers can now be seen by the level crossing where Tommy was killed.

Adrian Towler, the Shoreham Society’s journal editor, said the protest was planned before the accident, but it will have a huge impact on the day.

He said: “We said two years ago when we started the campaign that we didn’t want any accidents or people taking chances at the level crossing.”

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The Shoreham Society has been campaigning to re-open the subway that was closed in 1987 so people can pass under the level crossing when the barriers are down.

The demonstration is arranged to take place on Saturday, March 12, at 11am, and the society hopes it will force Southern Rail to take the next step forward.

“We have got placards and banners already made and I think a lot more people will now turn up,” he said.

The campaign was originally aimed towards Network Rail, but Mr Towler was recently advised that re-opening the subway would be down to Southern Rail.

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The society conducted a public survey in 2014 which was funded by the rail firm.

If the action group is successful it will ask Southern Rail to conduct a survey to find out where to put the new entrances, the cost and the problems it may encounter.

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