TRIMLEY'S level crossing gremlins have returned as car drivers are again forced to wait up to 20 minutes before barriers are lifted.But it emerged that the problems could be traced down to one man as the crossing is controlled manually…by an operator in Colchester.

TRIMLEY'S level crossing gremlins have returned as car drivers are again forced to wait up to 20 minutes before barriers are lifted.

But it emerged that the problems could be traced down to one man as the crossing is controlled manually…by an operator in Colchester.

Railtrack today called on motorists to telephone him with a gentle reminder of they find themselves waiting too long.

Concerns over access for emergency vehicles continue to worrying residents in Cordy's Lane as Trimley St Mary parish councillor Mary Dixon said the parish council had had concerns in the past.

She said that when there have been problems in the past they have asked the parish clerk to contact the control room in Colchester to resolve the problem.

Railtrack said the man in the control room in Colchester, who operates the barriers, was not aware of the problem.

"He said as far as we're concerned we're not aware of any problems at all.

"It is actually controlled by CCTV cameras and it is one of the signal men from Colchester who controls it," said Lindsey Thompson, a spokeswoman from Railtrack.

"Once a train has gone through, the barriers will rise automatically. Now for what ever reason on those two days it did not happen.

"So it is one of those funny things that happens from time to time."

She advised car owners to contact the signalman from the phone provided in future to make him aware of the problem.

John Goodman, of Cordy's Lane, Trimley St Mary, said: "I often wonder what would happen in an emergency. We become an island at times."

Mr Goodman had to wait 20 minutes on Wednesday and Thursday at the crossing to get home after work from around 5.45pm.

"There was a queue back there past the entrance to The Avenue seven cars long. I don't know what can be done or can't be done. I don't know if those cameras are live all the time.

"Either their not bothering or under staffed. At the end of the day the road users suffer.

"One would like to know what their policy is regarding when they decide to close the gates before the train comes because it is up to ten minute before the train comes.

"It would be interesting to know when they close it because I think they are closed on a lot of occasions very early."

The businessman said he thought the level crossing closes when a train goes through from Derby Road station to Trimley's station and then the barriers remain down until the train returns from Felixstowe, which takes 15 minutes.