Campaigners raise alarm at work on 'paused' bridge infilling programme

16/12/2021 | CHRIS AMES

Campaigners have accused National Highways of continuing work to prepare for the demolition or infilling of historic rail bridges, despite claiming the programme has been paused.

The HRE Group said the government-owned company, which manages more than 3,100 disused railway structures on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), has awarded 14 contracts in five weeks, despite ministers pausing the works in July.

It said the programme is expected to resume in the next few weeks, with 68 structures in the Historical Railways Estate (HRE) under immediate threat.

According to the group, tree felling, drainage, access and ecology works have been authorised at sites from Dorset to East Lothian, as contracts worth a total of £192,000 were awarded between 21 September and 25 October.

HRE added that utility investigations and tree felling works priced at £36,758 have been completed on the site of a bridge demolition project in Dorset.

On 11 August, three weeks after ministers paused National Highways’ works programme, the company’s engineer told a Dorset Council official: ‘We are proceeding with all of the background works as if [the demolition] were continuing’.

Graeme Bickerdike, a member the group, said: ‘The engineer’s comment reflects a determination within National Highways to push ahead with its damaging schemes. The awarding of these contracts demonstrates a clear direction of travel and undermines the ministers’ intervention.

‘The so-called pause is just smoke and mirrors.’

The group also pointed to preparatory works valued at £5,246 for infilling a structure needed for an extension of the Watercress Way in Hampshire, with vegetation being cleared within the footprint of the proposed scheme.

In Gloucestershire, £55,371 has been committed to drainage works at two bridges between Fairford and Lechlade-on-Thames, ahead of proposed infill projects.

The group said there was a longstanding hope tp reopen the old railway spanned by the structures as a cycle route.

It also claimed that cracks were filled in a bridge within a conservation area at Barcombe, East Sussex at a cost of £14,096, to prevent bats roosting. A vigorous community campaign has been launched to resist an infill scheme which would block an established wildlife corridor. Contracts worth £246K have also been awarded for the main works.

Local campaign organiser Hazel Fell Rayner said: ‘Passers-by who saw contractors on site were told they were conducting a bat survey - only to find bat exclusion measures had been installed on the bridge immediately after. It seems underhand, dishonourable and to take communities for fools, giving false reassurance that the scheme is paused whilst charging ahead with the removal of wildlife and habitat from sites.’

National Highways head of Historical Railways Estate programme, Hélène Rossiter, said: The Historical Railways Estate (HRE) is an important part of our industrial heritage. This is why all infill and demolition plans were paused nationally and remain paused.

‘However we continued with vegetation and ecology work on a number of structures. This is good practice and will keep structures safe. This work will be required irrespective of any decisions regarding the future of these structures.’

National Highways said there will be no immediate reinstatement of the infilling and demolition works and that even if the pause is lifted point in future, all potential major work schemes that may require such intervention will be reviewed by the Stakeholder Advisory Forum and planning permission sought ‘where appropriate’.

Mr Bickerdike said the group has ‘low expectations’ of the forum, which it said currently has no heritage rail, environmental or ecological representation, with five of its nine members from National Highways or the DfT.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Traffic Management Technician - WMF3040e

£27,711 - £28,624
Are you an organised and motivated individual who wants to make a difference to how our roads are managed? Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2114e

£37,035 - £37,938
Are you an experienced and motivated professional looking to take the next step in your traffic management career? Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Transport Planner

£47,532 - £50,574
Royal Greenwich is a borough synonymous with first class modern services Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £28,797 - £30,708 per annum (Pay Award Pending)
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person to join the Service Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Delivery Senior Team Leader

£74,480 - £85,964
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification) Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual to join our South Lakeland team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Bulky Operative

£25,584.00 - £27,269.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent.
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Bulky Operative Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Project Delivery Team Leader

£57,710 - £71,842
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification). Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts Council

£52000 - £61000 per annum
Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts CouncilNorth Herts CouncilPermanent, Full Time£52,866 - £61,866 per annum, plus car allowance (pay award pe England, Hertfordshire, Letchworth Garden City
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
This is a key support role, helping to deliver a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes across South Lakeland. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Flood Risk Engineering and Strategy Officer

£49,764 - £55,623
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Senior Integrated Transport Officer

£34,324 - £37,529
Are you an experienced transport planning professional ready to influence strategic policy and drive real change Matlock, Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Roadworker Trainee LGV Driver (3 Posts)

Grade 6 £25,183 - £25,638 per annum (Pay award pending)
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers to be part of our team undertaking major highway, bridge and related construction and reconstruction Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Engineer

£44,430 - £51,663
This post is within the Highways Design and Delivery Team. London (Greater)
Recruiter: Tower Hamlets London Borough Council

Civil Enforcement Officer - WMF3013e

£27,711 -£28,624
Are you seeking an active and challenging role, part of a friendly and welcoming team? Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

UGO Bus Driver

Up to £25081.00 per annum
UGO Bus DriverPermanent, Part TimeUp to £25,081 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Head of Highways Operations

Salary
Somerset Council
Recruiter: Somerset Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW