Ever since the Selby rail crash in 2001 Dalston Parish Council has been very concerned about the risks posed by the totally inadequate protection around the railway bridge close to the BP Fuel Depot.

Yesterday a woman escaped serious injury when, according to reports, she lost control, and her car plunged down the embankment, finishing on the west going track. The pictures on the right shows that the car demolished a road sign before going down a steep embankment to finish on the track.

The Parish Council has frequently asked the County Council what would happen if this type of accident happened when a fully loaded fuel train was lying under the bridge, but, so far, there has been no response. Perhaps it was thought that the chance of a repeat of the Selby disaster was most unlikely. Maybe now those responsible for the road and the bridge will do something to make it impossible for this type of accident to happen again at this vulnerable spot. Fuel trains are frequently under the bridge as they are shunted into BP's siding. If a wagon crashed through the bridge or it's wings, as this car did, and landed on the fuel train, the potential for a congflagration, involving the BP fuel depot is very real.

Hopefully the relevant authorities will recognise this risk and immediately take steps to minimise the risk. No doubt the County Council will claim that it doesn't have the money for the work, but now that the possibility has been proved, the time has now come to act.