The family of an actress who died after being hit by a train at a level crossing say they finally have closure after a campaign for change came to an end this week.
John Black, the nephew of Olive McFarland, hopes "lessons have been learned" after his 82-year-old aunt was killed at the Gipsy Lane level crossing in Needham Market in 2011.
Network Rail announced on Monday that the crossing would be closed, with a new footpath to be built in its place under the railway.
An existing culvert 230 metres north of the site will direct pedestrians away from the Gipsy Lane crossing.
Mr Black, 53, said: "It has been a long process and we're happy it is going to be closed."
Mrs McFarland’s death occurred after she travelled from Paddock House care home in Eye to her property in Creeting St Mary to care for her three chickens.
The former actress appeared in a number of film and TV shows between the 1950s and mid 1970s.
She starred alongside Sean Connery in the 1961 film, The Frightened City.
Other roles Mrs McFarland was known for include The Sweeney, Alive and Kicking, On the Game and the BBC's Sunday Night Theatre.
In 2016, a hearing relating to her death at Ipswich Crown Court resulted in Network Rail being fined £4million.
The court heard of several safety failings made by Network Rail, including a speed restriction of 55mph which should have been in place.
Mr Black praised the conduct of some staff members at Network Rail since then for the way they have kept him "fully informed" during consultation processes.
On the day of his aunt's death in August 2011, Mr Black believes he also lost his mother due to its effects.
He said: "My aunt was killed when she was struck by the train, but on that day I also feel I lost my mother. She never recovered from the tragic loss of her sister.
"During the subsequent years, we sought an explanation and apology for her death, but even after the trial my mother was never released from the torment."
The new route will begin construction this month, Network Rail has confirmed, and work is hoped to be completed by the end of 2024.
A memorial plaque will be placed at the entrance to the culvert to remember Mrs McFarland.
"My mother may not be alive to witness the opening of the underpass, but the fact that the crossing is now going to be closed and Network Rail is providing a memorial stone in my aunt's memory would be something she would greatly appreciate," Mr Black added.
"It will be closure now. I think this is the end of the process.
"It was always open-ended with the crossing still being open, but I feel now it is time to move on."
Lawrence Bowman, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “This closure has been a long time coming but the new footpath construction is underway and a safer pathway for pedestrians to cross this very busy stretch of railway will be open early next year.
"This will significantly improve safety for everyone who needs to cross the railway at Gipsy Lane and for those working and travelling on it.”
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