‘Eiffel tower of Frinton’ ripped out
April 22nd, 2009 by News
A manually-operated wooden railway crossing which marked the gateway to the genteel Essex seaside resort of Frinton-on-Sea has been ripped out under cover of darkness by railway authorities.
In a move branded “cowardly” by campaigners who wanted to keep them, the 19th-century railway gates were demolished at about 2am on Saturday following a three-year battle with residents keen to preserve their town’s spirit of independence and history.
The Mayor of Frinton, Henry Allen, who has lived in the seaside town for more than 20 years, said: “Paris has its Eiffel Tower, London has Tower Bridge and in Frinton we have the gates. All over the world people talk about them.”
The historic structure features on the town’s crest and, as it was on the only road into the town, came to exemplify Frinton’s traditionalism.
Now it will be replaced with a modern version, complete with flashing lights and sirens which will be operated by CCTV camera from up the line in Colchester.
“They came under the cover of darkness by stealth at 2am in the morning,” said David Foster, 63, chairman of the Frinton Gates Preservation Society.
“They knew we were going to be there in the morning to express our dissatisfaction as a community at the way we have been treated. The gates are an important symbol, not only iconic and the best-known gates in the country but they are known throughout the world. Network Rail don’t care about heritage.”
