A HIGHLY-controversial plan to close a village high street for ten months next year has been put on hold indefinitely.

Network Rail has said it may have found a solution which means it will not have to close Steventon High Street to carry out work on a bridge.

The company wanted to raise the bridge, which passes below the High Street, to create room for new overhead electric wires on the track beneath.

Residents and business owners feared shops would have to close if the company shut the road from February 16.

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But spokesman Julian Burnell said: “It appears an alternative solution may have arisen as a result of the technical development works which have been going on in parallel to the construction of the project.”

He said the company needed to investigate the option in more detail and discuss the implications with the community.

He did not want to outline the new plan but said it would require the closure of the Stocks Lane level crossing and the restriction of the Causeway level crossing to pedestrians only.

He said: “The closure of the bridge remains an option if the solution we are investigating proves unworkable, but it is on indefinite hold for now.”

Villagers have previously called on the firm to lower the track beneath, rather than raise the bridge.



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