Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
GP’S dismay as work begins on ‘monstrous’ railway container
Huge trackside unit being installed just feet from city doctor’s house
An ugly trackside railway container branded “monstrous” by neighbours is being installed just feet from a city doctor’s house.
The huge unit, to be sited next to St Stephen’s crossing in Canterbury, is needed by Network Rail to house a variety of signalling equipment.
The company say it is vital to bring together ageing equipment in a single unit to improve reliability and avoid crossing closures, but the plans sparked almost 90 objections. Among those who opposed the project was Canterbury GP Dr Ayesha Masood, whose house sits right next to where the container - known as a relocatable equipment building - is being placed.
She says she was dismayed to see ground work start on Tuesday.
“My property is most affected, but my neighbours have been incredible in supporting my objection, because they also wanted to protect the area from its impact,” she said. “Like me, they believed there must be a less intrusive site for the container nearby.”
One such neighbour, Anne Ainley, told the council: “I think it is monstrous to place this proposed eyesore immediately next to someone’s private residence.” Network Rail has “permitted rights” for trackside network buildings, but needed the city council’s approval for its location and design. Council planning officers initially rejected the company’s first application in December on the grounds of the appearance of the bulky-looking unit, and questioned whether a more suitable location could be found - rather than so close to homes. But the council says it now accepts Network Rail’s case that there is no alternative site, and is satisfied the screening of the building with 2.4-metre high fencing will be adequate to reduce its visual impact, which it considers not to be “unduly harmful”.
Dr Masood, a mother of four, says: “I know some people might
say ‘well, what do you expect when you live next to a railway line and crossing’, but the trains have never bothered us and my children have actually enjoyed seeing them.
“What we are talking about is a new building just a few feet from my house, where I have lived since 2007. But Network Rail gave a lot of technical reasons why it had to be there. “So, of course I am a bit
deflated, and was a bit angry when I saw the workmen move in before I was told of the decision, which makes me question the integrity of the process. “But I had more or less accepted that this was going to happen, despite us putting up a good fight. I am sure it could have implications for the value of my house, and sitting in and enjoying my conservatory will never be the same.”