This is one of two legacy bridges at Little Smeaton in North Yorkshire. It used to span the Hull & Barnsley Railway, an ambitious export route linking coalfields with the docks. The line was substantially closed in 1959, but it’s not disused: over the past 63 years, wildlife has reclaimed it and a fledgling scheme could eventually see its transformation into the Coal to Coast Greenway.

But both structures are earmarked for infilling as part of National Highways’ management of the Historical Railways Estate. The larger of the two - shown in the photo - is skewed and used to cross three tracks: we estimate that 3,000 tonnes of aggregate and concrete will be needed to complete the job. The other - further north - is smaller and will probably require a further 2,000 tonnes.

All that quarried material would have to be transported to site and then compacted around the bridges, blocking the wildlife corridor. They’ve already felled trees and cleared habitat from the infill’s footprint.

Much cheaper and more sustainable is sympathetic repair, retaining the structures for future use. But National Highways seems unwilling to recognise the ecological importance of route continuity for wildlife migration purposes.

Please support the call for expert independent ecology studies of the dismantled railways spanned by under-threat HRE structures by signing this petition to Baroness Vere, the responsible Minister, and by sharing it with your friends, family and colleagues.

https://www.change.org/protect-railway-wildlife-corridors

Thanks for your continued support.