Villagers stage protest to save Wycombe Railway bridge
A COUNCIL leader has vowed to fight any plans to demolish a disused bridge on the route of the Wycombe Railway.
South Oxfordshire District Council leader Sue Cooper is backing the residents of Horspath, near Cowley, who want to keep Cuddesdon Road bridge intact.
On February 24, villagers gathered on top of the bridge to peacefully protest against its potential demolition, only to be told by police that they faced fines if they continued.
Highways England has responsibility for the bridge at part of the Department for Transport's Historical Railways Estate (HRE) collection of around 3800 bridges, tunnels and viaducts that are no longer needed for the national network.
Route
The broad gauge Wycombe Railway ran between Maidenhead and Oxford, and was connected to the GWR at both ends. It opened for passenger services on August 1, 1954, was taken over by the GWR in 1867, and converted to standard gauge three years later.
Passenger services were withdrawn between Oxford and Princes Risborough from January 1963, and the track between Thame and Morris Cowley was lifted in 1969, largely because of the allegedly deteriorating condition of Horspath Tunnel. Highways England stated that the emergency road closure beneath the bridge on February 22 was implemented merely to remove dangerous parapets. However, the bridge still remains on its list (issue 276) for future demolition or infill.
Coun Cooper said while Highways England did not need permission to remove the dangerous parapets at short notice, it would need permission from her council to demolish the bridge completely.
Disused railway trackbeds make good cycle tracks, she said, adding: “I am really quite keen for the route to be kept as intact as possible and the bridge to stay in place.”
Meanwhile, the HRE Group, recently formed to oppose Highways England plans to demolish or infill structures which are of historic value or which could be given a fresh use in the future (as reported in issue 276), said its campaign has been taken up by Historic England, the Victorian Society and SAVE Britain's Heritage, while several MPs are lobbying the Department for Transport on behalf of constituents.
The group's initial appraisal of the 134 bridges and tunnels currently earmarked for demolition or infilling revealed that 19 structures (14%) are already proposed for reuse, 22 (17%) have identified potential for future reuse, 54 (40%) have no obstructions to reuse, and 39 (29%) have no realistic value.
It has been claimed that nationwide, six proposed cyclepaths would be blocked by Highways England's infilling plans, while potential extensions to heritage lines in Angus, Cumbria and Norfolk could also be affected, together with the reopening of a strategic north-south railway through west Wales and the Penrith-Keswick branch. In Dorset, the demolition of a bridge would impose additional costs of £750,000 on the construction of a new light railway and active travel route, a group statement said.
Powers
“Further work has revealed that in 33 of the 63 cases examined, the disused railways spanned by bridges proposed for infilling are safeguarded from development under policies set out in the relevant council's Local Plan,” added the statement. “However, Highways England is seeking to overcome this difficulty by using Permitted Development powers which don't involve planning permission and are only applicable in emergency situations presenting the threat of death.”
As we closed for press, more than 11,000 people had signed the group's petition – at www.change.org/p/ highways-england-protect-ourrailway-heritage-from-highwaysengland-s-wrecking-ball – against the Highways England plans.
As reported last issue, Highways England has appointed outside contractors NPX to manage the HRE.