Residents’ anger over country road damage
Network Rail under attack
RESIDENTS are speaking out about a railway company’s ‘disrespectful’ and ‘disruptive’ use of a road next to their homes.
Neighbours say that Network Rail has created health and safety issues and caused harm to the countryside at Heberdens Farm in Idsworth.
They point to hedges damaged by heavy machinery, holes in the roads caused by vehicles, and a large amount of litter left in the nearby verges by workers.
Network Rail has used this access point, which is opposite St Hubert’s Church in Old Idsworth, since the bridleway and signal box were moved 20 years ago.
Locals say that up until February 2020, the work carried out from this site had been minimal.
Since that time, however, Network Rail has been using the site to bring machinery required to repair the railway between Rowlands Castle and Petersfield.
Gemma Fisk, a partner in her family’s farm business at Heberdens Farm, lives next to the access site. Now an arable farm, her family business has been running since 1960 when her grandfather bought the land.
Gemma says that Network Rail has been bringing machinery into the area nearly three in every four weekends out of the year.
She said: ‘To bring in their equipment they completely block the road, sometimes for hours at a time, meaning no traffic, particularly no emergency service vehicles can get through.
‘They do not get road closure and diversion procedures in place, so road users continue to try to use the road and cannot get through.’
A lay-by, which is maintained by St Hubert’s so that visitors can visit the 11th century church, is used by the Network Rail workers for loading, unloading and manoeuvring machinery and equipment.
Carol Ashworth and her husband Stuart, Gemma’s neighbours, are also concerned.
Carol said: ‘It’s such a shame to have such a beautiful place disturbed by the machinery. It breaks the natural borders so flooding becomes an issue, the road becomes completely flooded.’
A Network Rail spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of the complaints regarding the access point for the railway and are investigating.
‘As part of that investigation, a senior member of our maintenance team will be inspecting work due to take place this weekend.’