AN INFORMAL consultation has been launched to help decide the fate of a controversial railway crossing at Long Rock that was closed last year.
The Mexico foot crossing on the Penzance line was temporarily closed by Cornwall Council following an inquest into the death of grandmother Jeanette Nicholls, who was struck and killed by a train there in October 2011.
Campaigners in the village have argued strongly in favour of the crossing reopening but Network Rail applied for the crossing to be permanently closed following a recommendation at her inquest by Cornwall's assistant coroner Barrie Van Den Berg.
The council has now written to a number of organisations which have previously contacted the council about it including emergency services, utility companies, Ludgvan Parish Council and the Friends of Long Rock Mexico Crossing.
Chairman of the Friends Robert Nance said they had been expecting the consultation and were now putting together a response.
"Network Rail have a lot of points so we have to answer each of them in turn," he said.
"When we had the public meeting, which filled the village hall to overflowing, we put it to a vote and it was unanimous; there was nobody against [keeping the crossing open] and nobody abstained."
Cornwall Council will later make a decision whether or not to enforce a rail crossing extinguishment order.
A spokeswoman for the unitary authority said consultation before making public paths orders was a requirement of the constitution of Cornwall Council and formed part of a good practice regime.