A question mark is hanging over the future of a 19th-Century railway signal box in Carnoustie.
The brick North British Railway structure, built in 1898, stands next to Carnoustie station and its level crossing, which was named the third most dangerous in Scotland in 2006.
Network Rail said the level crossing will be upgraded within five years in a move which will also involve “changes to the signalling system”.
A spokesman said a decision on the future of the signal box is still being assessed despite a statement to the contrary on a signallers’ website.
The Signalbox website, which contains recent and forthcoming alterations, stated the Carnoustie box would be axed in 2016 and the area would be controlled from Edinburgh.
Carnoustie Community Council chairman Ed Oswald said the group would be contacting Network Rail as a matter of urgency to clarify the position.
Mr Oswald said: “On the Signalbox website, the 2016 plans contain the statement that the Carnoustie signal box will close in 2016.
“It was agreed that the community council will contact Network Rail as a matter of urgency to clarify the confusing position. Carnoustie Community Council has raised the question of safety at this level crossing over many years.
“This crossing was flagged up as the third most dangerous crossing in Scotland a few years ago and during the really stormy weather at the beginning of the year, the local signalman closed the crossing for road traffic on certain occasions to protect the rail barriers from damage.”
There were 10,000 signal boxes at the start of the 20th Century, a number that has been gradually reduced to about 800 today.
Network Rail, the company which manages the UK’s rail infrastructure, is replacing the remaining signalling locations with 14 route operating centres as part of an overhaul of the system.
The project is expected to take up to 30 years and will cover England, Wales and Scotland. About 80% of the new system is estimated to be in place within the next 15 years.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The Carnoustie level crossing will be renewed within the next five years and upgraded from the current two barriers to a four barrier system.
“This will also involve changes to the signalling system, but whether the signal box will remain in the area or be transferred to another location is still being assessed.
“We have no immediate plans for any works and no dates have been set.”
Located on the western side of the railway signal box in Carnoustie is a small ornamental garden surrounded by stone walls. This is all that remains of the Salmon Bothy, which was in use until the 1960s.
Nets were stretched across the River Tay in Carnoustie Bay to catch salmon which were prepared and packed in ice at the bothy by local women, and put on special overnight express trains to Billingsgate Market in London.