A WOMAN is demanding an overhaul of an automatic level crossing on the Metrolink line after she was again left temporarily marooned when the barriers failed.

Ms Annette Corrigan was unable to leave for work on Tuesday morning due to the latest fault to hit the Hagside level crossing near Hinds Lane, Radcliffe.

She lives directly opposite the track at nearby Corran Stud and the crossing is the only access she has to enable her to travel into Radcliffe and Bury. The only alternative route is a private lane which has a locked gate.

Ms Corrigan said: “I saw the workmen out here on the Monday night and again on the Tuesday. Thankfully, though, the barriers were fixed in the late morning. But it meant I couldn’t leave to go to my work in Oldham.”

She stressed that the level crossing is critical to allow her to gain access to the main roads. Otherwise, she is effectively stranded.

“It’s my legal right of way and it’s on my deeds. I live directly facing the crossing. I’ve no other way of getting out. I’ve used this crossing for the past 20 years but during the last 18 months or so there have been numerous problems.”

Ms Corrigan went on: “There are faults with the barriers virtually every other week. Sometimes the problem can last six to seven hours up to a couple of days. In the past, I’ve been unable to get out to work. These faults are disrupting the farming community in general around here.

“All that seems to happen is that there are running repairs to the barriers time and time again. But what I want to see are the barriers being replaced to stop the faults from constantly occurring.”

A spokeswoman for Metrolink confirmed that engineers had rectified the latest fault to the automatic level crossing on Tuesday morning.

She added that any problems with the crossing were the responsibility of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive which owned the Metrolink system.