On 20 October, during the third day of the month-long inquiry into the proposed closure of many level crossing footpaths in and around Essex, an announcement was made that the inquiry would have to adjourn until 2018. Network Rail, promoter of the closures, had not given statutory notice to some of the owners of the affected land, and the adjournment was necessary to enable this to be done. We have since learned that the inquiry may not be resumed until May 2018.
