Filton bank footbridges to be "caged"

Post by **James** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:27 pm

From Glen Batten on SWRG. Bad luck Pete!

"Stanley Farm footbridge, just south of Filton Abbey Wood station, is to be
fitted with 'protective caging' - basically, anti-photography meshing. I would
guess the same goes for nearby Lockleaze and Narroways footbridges, as the whole
area seems to suffer from the same problems with local wildlife. More locations
to scratch off the list - a pity as all 3 are on Filton bank and excellent for
northbound steam. I will update as and when the caging appears."

Post by **madhattie** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:35 pm

Bastards! They're going to move the footpath at Lockleaze as well, ruining the place.

Typical though. Don't deal with the cause of the trouble, just move them off someplace else. It'll be interesting to see how wire meshing will prevent the graffiti, muggings, drunkeness, druggies, tramps shitting on the paths etc.

In all my hours on the bridge at Lockleaze I've seen plenty of scumbags but I've never once seen a policeman.

Post by **madhattie** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:29 am

Of course, one good thing to come out of this is that I now know the official name for the bridge! Website updated

stumpytrain · Post by **stumpytrain** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:40 am

I agree it's a pain but I don't see how the rail industry can stop stone throwing. It's a problem that can only be resolved with better parenting and policing.

We do get a lot of problems with these bridges so this should hopefully make an impact in improving performance on Filton bank.

Alex
Bristol Panel

Post by **madhattie** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:27 am

stumpytrain wrote:I agree it's a pain but I don't see how the rail industry can stop stone throwing. It's a problem that can only be resolved with better parenting and policing.

How much is the caging going to cost? I bet it runs into the hundreds of thousands of pounds price bracket. Enough money to get a security firm to patrol the bridges regularly for a few years and put a stop to the problem, something which would benefit the whole community as well as Network Rail. (I admit it's not their job to do so, and the police should have solved these problems ages ago, but caging the bridges is only one answer)

stumpytrain wrote:We do get a lot of problems with these bridges so this should hopefully make an impact in improving performance on Filton bank.

Sticking the missing two lines back up the bank would improve performance quite drastically to the untrained eye. I've lost count of how many times I've seen Voyagers trundling up or down the hill at 5mph because they're stuck behind a crawling 66 on a coal train. (or getting rid of the 66s for something that can go a little faster!)

Post by **madhattie** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:00 pm

Post by **madhattie** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:13 am

I was going to visit this location on the 4th but it rained and rained and rained all day long!

Anyway, here's the 'improved' bridge.

Inviting and friendly place!

stumpytrain · Post by **stumpytrain** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:16 am

Lovely! Stone throwing in Flax Bourton this evening so they've obviously moved...

Post by **James** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:36 pm

madhattie wrote:I was going to visit this location on the 4th but it rained and rained and rained all day long!

Anyway, here's the 'improved' bridge.

Inviting and friendly place!

Flat roof??? You idiots! Now there will be people on top of the footbridge throwing things. In London, the caged footbridges have a steeply curving roof so no-one can stand up there, but obviously Bristol council know better...

Whichever way you look at it, it's still a blatantly obvious sign of social decay.

Post by **madhattie** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:42 pm

James wrote:Whichever way you look at it, it's still a blatantly obvious sign of social decay.

Definitely. Do bugger all about those that break the law, but make life that little bit more shitty for those that abide by it.

Post by **madhattie** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:47 pm

James wrote:In London, the caged footbridges have a steeply curving roof so no-one can stand up there, but obviously Bristol council know better...
.

In this particular case it's South Gloucestershire Council. Although to be fair, they had no choice anyway. Planning permission on railway structures is just a formality, the railway can pretty well do what it wants.

BristleGWR · Post by **BristleGWR** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:45 pm

Is there any sign of the other footbridges on Filton bank being done, or confirmation that they will be done? Thanks

Post by **madhattie** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:57 pm

BristleGWR wrote:Is there any sign of the other footbridges on Filton bank being done, or confirmation that they will be done? Thanks

There's no formal paperwork on either bridge, and I haven't been able to find anything on the planning dept website at BCC.

Post by **madhattie** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:14 pm

A posting by Glen Batten on SW gen (Yahoo)

As predicted, Lockleaze footbridge is the next to receive wire grid 'cageing' treatment - the job looked about half finished when I passed this morning. Narroways seems likely to follow. Meanwhile, the Filton Stanley Farm footbridge has had some particularly decorative barbed wire added to dissuade anyone from venturing onto the 'roof' of the cage. As I said before, this bridge is now no good for morning photography but is - currently - still OK for afternoons in either direction as it's possible to poke even a large lens through the pallisade fencing on the western approach path to the bridge.

Post by **madhattie** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:17 pm

I should add that I managed to take very usable photos through the mesh on Stanley Farm bridge using my camera (which has a 58mm wide lens). Awkward, and not very entertaining, but certainly possible. Anyone using a modern point and shoot (which is probably the majority) will find it's very easy to stick a camera lens through the mesh and get the shot.