Rail bridge lights out for five years and counting
A pedestrians’ foot bridge has been left without lights for five years because repairs have been delayed for safety reasons. Hampshire County Council said it was waiting for permission from Network Rail to carry out the repairs.
Telegraph p16
Below is the text of a letter I have recently sent to Network Rail about the disgusting state of both the Steppingstone Bridge and the areas around it. I also included some, but not all, of the photographs shown below.
Whilst taking these photos, members of the public told me that a bottle had been smashed on the bridge steps. I immediately asked the district council street cleaning team if they could find out who was responsible for the cleaning of this area. Not for the first time, the team avoided any temptation to hide behind the ’not my job guv’ excuse we often hear from other agencies and just went out and cleared it up – thank you guys!
The state of the bridge area has undoubtedly become far worse since Network Rail insisted on foisting their second hand cast-off bridge from Aylesbury upon Spalding. The hideously ugly galvanized steel fence, Network Rail then installed to protect a stack of pallets, two overflowing skips and the scrap metal old bridge, has added further to the rundown and hostile feeling that must be experienced by anybody crossing the bridge. Network Rail’s choice of material and style of fencing is completely inappropriate for a rural market town such as ours. Unfortunately, this is typical of the arrogance and disdain Network Rail has displayed throughout the whole Steppingstone Bridge replacement fiasco.
To add insult to injury, during installation of these defences, Network Rail ignored the fact that the solitary lamp post serving the bridge, was responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council Highways Dept and incarcerated it behind their fence. This has prevented any maintenance by LCC and means the light has now not worked for nearly 2 years!
So, as well as the design of the bridge meaning users cannot see who else is on it as they approach it, the top deck of the bridge is a black hole during the hours of darkness. This means that females pedestrians will not risk using it at night and will instead walk, or possibly even drive, the long way around in to the town centre.
The emerging proposals for the redevelopment of Holland Market offer, Network Rail a unique opportunity to become good neighbours to Spalding. In the same way that National Grid are sorting out the site of the old Spalding Gas Works, Network Rail should seek to cooperate with the Holland Market developers, to regenerate the eyesore they have created. I understand the old 5 Shed site, next to the Sainsbury roundabout, is also being considered for inclusion in any plans and this could be continued on to include the Network Rail waste land.
Even if Network show no inclination to be come involved in the project, it is completely unacceptable for them to leave their site in its current state. In its current condition and because of the ongoing neglect of bridge and the area around it, Steppingstone Bridge is both a blight and an embarrassment for Spalding.
I therefore urge all of those who care about Spalding and wish Network to show the town and its residents some respect, to write to the address below, demanding action.
Community Relations Complaints Procedure 9 March 2012
Network Rail HQ
Kings Place
90 York Way
London N1 9AG
Ref: Stepping Stones Bridge, Spalding – Rubbish and graffiti
Please find attached sample photographs of the current state of the above subject bridge and its surrounding areas. All these images were taken on the afternoon of 8 March 2012.
1. I request that you carry out urgent remedial work on the bridge surrounds to clear all the rubbish and on the bridge itself to remove the offensive graffiti. I accept that this is not caused by Network Rail operations, but by the residents of the town. Nonetheless, your company has a responsibility to maintain the area. Also, Network Rail was warned that replacing the original bridge with one of this design would make it a prime target for graffiti.
2. I would also request information on when Network Rail intend cleaning up the waste land surrounding the whole bridge area. This undoubtedly increases the general impression that the area is abandoned and rubbish dumping is therefore acceptable.
it looks like the saga of the lighting, or rather the lack of it, on Steppingstone Bridge in Spalding might be coming to an end in the new year. However, whilst Network Rail appear to have agreed to fund the work required, following discussions with the county council, they deserve little real credit.
Having communicated with a number of national organisations I can safely say, without reservation, that Network Rail is by far the most arrogant and un-cooperative I have ever dealt with. Almost since the first day the new (secondhand) bridge was opened, people have been complaining about the lack of lighting and the standing water on the top deck.
I alone must have registered at least four complaints, with the inappropriately named, customer service dept in York, about these problems. Each and every time I was promised a call from their local representative and each and every time it never happened.
Of course Network Rail makes a point of not ignoring everybody, especially when it’s the local MP. Only a week or so ago, I was told that the county council was still awaiting written confirmation, from Network Rail, that they are willing to finance the work to move the currently non-working light. Then, by pure chance, I was emailed a copy of a letter sent to John Hayes by Network Rail, stating that they are just waiting for the completion of legal agreements before carrying out the work! It would seem that Network Rail doesn’t even have the good manners to communicate with the other party to this work, the county council, so what chance does a minor politican like myself have?
I would like to think the passing in to law of the Localism Bill would eventually lead to the building of bridges (pardon the pun) between faceless organisations such as Network Rail and the public. Unfortunately, based on my personal experience to date, there’s more chance of HS2 being built this century!
A bit more information for residents regarding the flooding problem the bridge suffers during periods of heavy rain. Below is a link to a letter received from LCC. As you will see from reading this, the issue of who does what on the bridge is far from straightforward. I will do my best to make progress on this before the freezing weather arrives again this year.
Minor progress of sorts on the lighting issue, although sadly no actual light at the end of the tunnel, because it still doesn’t work! At least I now know that it is a waste of timing asking either Network Rail or LCC to fix it.
I received a letter from LCC today, giving me some information on the situation regarding the lack of a working light on the bridge. It would seem that, despite being the county council and actually having responsiblity for the footpath that crosses the railway line via this bridge, LCC can’t get any more sense out of Network Rail than the rest of us. It’s difficult to believe that a company that relies so heavily on public money for its survival, can be so arrogant when it comes to addressing the concerns of members of that public.
Below is a copy of the letter I received today along with one sent to John Hayes MP.
Bottom line is, if I can find £3,500, the county council is willing to install and maintain lighting on the bridge. I will now be seeking some support from other Spalding members at the next Spalding Town Forum. This support could be by tapping in to the ward budgets, or maybe by seeking some help from the Spalding Power Station community fund. Watch this space.
Roger Gambba-Jones 