TYCOON Mohamed Al Fayed has threatened to pull the plug on plans for scores of new houses if Network Rail chiefs close a level crossing where two teenagers were killed.
Locals also fear the proposed move could add 10-15 minutes to journey times and want the junction retained and new safety measures introduced.
The crossing at Delny was the scene of a crash in 2007 that left two teenagers dead.
They were passengers in a car that was hit by a train. The car driver was later given a five-year custodial sentence.
Network Rail has asked Highland Council to allow it to close the Easter Ross crossing, claiming it is unsafe – but this would shut a direct route to and from the A9 Inverness-Thurso road.
Mr Al Fayed said the move would force him to rethink a proposed 90-acre development at Barbaraville, near Kildary, on Balnagown Estates, which would include affordable and executive homes.
Jonathan Henson, of Balnagown Estates, said yesterday: “Balnagown Estates is working on a solution which would enable some form of crossing at Delny to be maintained.
“We met Network Rail representatives to discuss the possibility of installing some form of barrier crossing, but Network Rail indicated that, regardless of any development proposal, the existing crossing at Delny would have to be closed on safety grounds and replaced with a pedestrian crossing.”
He added that Network Rail indicated the only solution would be a bridge.
Mr Henson said: “In the event that a solution cannot be found, Balnagown will not be proceeding with the development as presently proposed.
“Network Rail has indicated that they are still planning to close the crossing and Balnagown Estates would fight the closure of the crossing given its impact on the local community and its own land.”
Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Council chairman John Boocock said yesterday that local people wanted the crossing retained with improved safety measures, including barriers and signs.
He said: “I have no evidence that Balnagown Estates has any interest in the wishes of the local community – only in their planning application.
“They created this situation. When they submitted their planning application to Highland Council, there were no plans to close the crossing.”
Mr Boocock said that when the application for the 100 homes was lodged in 2008, Network Rail objected, and the following year the crossing closure was mooted.
He added that the community council had obtained correspondence from Highland Council under freedom of information legislation that showed the main reason for closing the Delny crossing had nothing to do with safety.
He said: “The two issues – crossing closure and the planning application – should now be dealt with completely separately, especially as the housing development looks to be purely speculative.”
The community council has asked for a meeting with the council’s chief executive to discuss the issues.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The safety of both motorists and rail users is our priority when reviewing level crossings.
“We have no plans to introduce the new barrier system at this location as we do not believe it to be a suitable solution to future levels of usage on the road.
“Future housing growth is one of the reasons why we wish to remove vehicles from the Delny crossing and we previously objected to the development in question.”