At the Local Committee back in 2021 Councillors agreed that the Definitive Statement should be changed to match the Definitive Map so that it showed the Crossing as a Public Right of Way. It has been so for decades going back to even before the railway was built in the 19th Century. Good news I hear you say.

Yes it was, but despite that ruling the decision still had to be put out to public consultation where everyone and anyone had the right to object to the decision. Delays, allegedly caused by Covid, meant that Surrey County Council's Legal Department did not issue the Notice for a long time, but eventually it was issued.

We then heard that there was one objection from Network Rail. The Council cannot confirm the Order itself and must now refer it to the Secretary of State for determination. It has a duty to do this. It was already going to take a long time, but with a change of Government it could now take considerably longer.

Strange how withdrawing the Winter Fuel Payment comes in to effect immediately but other items gather dust in a back room somewhere in Whitehall. In the meantime though it has status as a Public Right of Way.

And so it goes on.................................