Westerleigh Road, Yate
Ref.: www.thisisbristol.co.uk - 08/03/07
Link to online source
---------------------
Network Rail has come under fire from residents after it claimed they would "not be able to interpret" plans to clear a railway bank.The rail operator is clearing vegetation from an embankment in Westerleigh Road, Yate, which it says is necessary to stop it collapsing.
Residents were sent letters revealing when work was due to start, but without revealing details of the scheme.
Civic leaders wrote to Network Rail saying residents should be told exactly what was planned.
Network Rail wrote back saying: "We are happy to provide Yate Town Council and Dodington Parish Council with a copy of the plans.
"We do not feel that it would be beneficial for copies to be passed to all local residences.
"To explain, from experience we know the majority will not be able to interpret these plans.
"As such, this will further confuse the situation and add little value.
"Nevertheless, we will be happy to reproduce copies for those who would specifically request them."
Monica Clarke, 84, of Rodborough, was one of the residents who had concerns about the plans.
She said: "All we received was a small letter through our letterboxes explaining that the work was going on.
"I think for a project of this size we should be informed of exactly what is happening there."
Councillor Mike Robbins said: "This is very condescending. Local people are quite capable of understanding a planting plan. They would have been able to understand a sketch plan of the earth-moving work too if Network Rail had bothered to provide one.
"This work is essential to prevent landslips like the one that happened recently in the cutting near Chipping Sodbury.
"The trains are limited to 20mph through this stretch because the Westerleigh Road embankment is unstable.
"But Network Rail needs to talk to locals and explain what's going on."
Councillor Kay Crowe said: "It is true that they put a note through letterboxes at the end of October, saying that they were starting works that could last until the summer.
"But that note mainly talked about some night work in the following few days.
"We had to put out leaflets ourselves explaining that a thousand lorryloads of soil will have to be brought in to stabilise the embankment."
Network Rail spokeswoman Kirsty Anderson said: "From past experience in similar projects such as this, we felt it was unnecessary to send the line-side residents plans of the works as we didn't want to confuse the messages that we give them.
"However, we do have a dedicated 24-hour helpline which they can contact for further information and we will send the plans as and when requested."
