A ROAD closure which has left villagers with a seven mile detour is likely to remain in place for three months.

Families living in Plumpton Green are facing months of disruption after Network Rail confirmed the closure of Station Road is likely to remain until Christmas.

The rail authority has said they are unable to proceed with the updating plans without planning consent and cannot reopen the Victorian crossing because of upgrade work engineers have already carried out.

Bosses have “wholeheartedly apologised” for the delay and said they are “working round the clock” to try and find a temporary safe solution for the level crossing.

That apology though has cut no ice with villagers and councillors who have labelled the rail authority’s actions as “arrogant and unacceptable”.

Network Rail had proposed a £2 million project updating the grade II listed level crossing at Plumpton Station with “21st technology” but Lewes District Council’s planning committee rejected listed building consent for the works at the end of last month.

Rail infrastructure bosses said work began on the crossing five days before that committee met and the work carried out has prevented its immediate reopening.

Network Rail bosses said they will also have to carry out a full safety risk assessment which could identify further necessary works to be completed before the road can be reopened.

Lewes District Councillor Sarah Osborne has attracted more than 600 signatures on a petition calling for the level crossing to be reopened as a “matter of urgency”.

She said: "Network Rail's arrogance is breathtaking.

“It will be very bad news for local businesses, elderly and vulnerable residents, parents trying to take their children to school as well as a complete lack of access for disabled people.

"For the first time we have seen a clear admission by Network Rail that they have handled this whole situation badly but they still haven't learnt the full lesson.

“They must re-open this road as a matter of urgency."

A Network Rail spokesman said the three month period is not a fixed timeline.

He added: “We are currently conducting a safety risk assessment to identify what measures need to be put in place to reopen the crossing and the road as soon as possible whilst working with the community and local authority to find a long term safe solution.”