It's there to reduce the risk of a collision at the level crossing, as it is routinely misused / abused by motorists. It stays on until the LX is converted to MCB-OD.
The fact is that the location of the (automatic half barrier) crossing on a t junction is pretty awful. There is not much you can do if half way across a foreign hgv delivering to the nursery pulls out to turn right in front of you- you have to stop obstructing the railway or run in to the truck. It should have been replaced by an over bridge years ago, theres plenty of room on the Ford side.
