At the end of July, the Government put National Highways’ infilling and demolition of legacy rail structures on hold following the controversy caused by its unwarranted actions at Great Musgrave in Cumbria where a delightful masonry arched bridge - with a handful of minor defects - was opportunistically buried in pursuit of the company’s policy of liability reduction. The structure was needed for the reconnection of two heritage railways, neither of which was consulted about the scheme.
But over the subsequent weeks, National Highways has continued with its preparatory works for more destructive projects. 68 structures are under immediate threat, but the number is likely to reach several hundred in the longer term.
In Dorset, a contractor recently entered property adjacent to a bridge demolition site and cut down trees without notifying any of the three affected landowners or seeking their consent. Similar work has taken place near Wakefield. And in Barcombe, East Sussex, a contractor blocked up cracks in a bridge earmarked for infilling to prevent bats roosting or hibernating in them.
This structure stands within a conservation area and spans an ecologically sensitive habitat. The community has written a letter to National Highways - signed by 176 residents - asking the company to reconsider its infilling plan and instead carry out sympathetic repairs. However it has now emerged that a £176K contract for the scheme was awarded two weeks after the Government paused all works and Permitted Development powers are being used to drive it through.
Forgotten Relics has produced a video report about the community’s campaign to prevent their valued historical asset from being buried in an estimate 1,800 tonnes of aggregate and concrete, blocking a wildlife corridor...
Please share it with your friends, family and colleagues to help increase awareness of the issue and ask them to sign our petition against the infilling and demolition programme...
https://www.change.org/theHREgroup
The threat posed by National Highways to our great railway heritage is live and very real. The company has never been the right custodian for the Historical Railways Estate and it is time for Government to place the 3,100 structures with an organisation willing to care for it appropriately and proportionately.
We thank you for your continued support.