The repaired step
Given the climate change crisis we need children to walk to school, but pupils using the pedestrian bridge over the main railway line in Wembley to access their schools face a journey over a bridge in poor condition surrounded by litter and graffiti. Not the most pleasant way to travel - even if good for the planet.
The bridge goes from London Road over to the allotments and Lyon Park Avenue. There are schools on either side. The route avoids using the polluted High Road and Ealing Road.
I had heard that parents were concerned about a 'hole' in the bridge and their children falling through. When I visited today I found that the step had been repaired rather roughly (see above) but the bridge as a whole was in a shocking state, particularly the second leg over the two track railway where the sides of the bridge were rusting away. The covering of many of the steps has worn away and many lack any edging or warning yellow lines.
It is unclear which authority is responsible for the maintenance of the bridge although I understand the railway may have eventually made the small repair.
I dread to think about the danger of falling in wet or icy conditions.
A mixture of painted edging, metal edging and no edging
Topping to discourage climbing partially missing
Worn away tarmac covering exposing the wood below to rot and a trip hazard
Rusted sides of the lower section of the bridge with a gap between side and footway
Another exposed and splintered step
Litter in 'no man's land'
I have explored Brent's severance strategy south from the east up as far as Harlesden.
ReplyDeleteSurely this bridge here is listed on the Brent Public Rights of Way Definitive Map and Statement being Borough of Wembley, Borough of Willesden remains total excluded. Rail rail tracks job to maintain it/ looks urgent/ with trains surely also at risk from this super neglected footpath bridge?
The Willesden Junction footbridges for Harlesden residents north-south are well maintained, the issue there is that they clearly need massive scaling up for what is to be the UK's biggest transport super hub/ Harlesden Major Town population massive car-free housing towers growth as well.
Hammersmith and Fulham/ Ealing have new active travel movement infrastructure up scales planned already baked-in, while for Brent there's nothing happening (see Brent Transport Strategy Review 2022)?
Brent residents being green future travel opportunities massive failed. Brent should be building bridges south rather than neglecting or not legal registering them as is required.
I first asked Brent Council officers and councillors to do something about this bridge in 2020. I could not believe how it had deteriorated then, it's even worse now.
ReplyDeleteThe bridge is an ideal short cut from one side of Wembley to the other away from busy polluted roads. It should be treated as a vital community asset rather than just left to rot as a huge eyesore over hugely busy mainline railway lines.
Cllr Georgiou was the only councillor to keep
pushing for action over the past few years.
Even after the dangerous broken stop was reported this week Brent Council once again told me that Network Rail own the bridge and its not their responsibility. Apparently Network Rail reckon it is safe with no proper maintenance due until 2027/28!!!
Sadly this situation has echoes of this other Network Rail owned bridge in Barking which resudents had also raised concerns about with no action: https://www.itv.com/news/london/2022-08-24/collapsed-footbridge-leaves-man-lying-inches-from-live-rail-line
It’s even worse now since the street lights were removed a few years ago and not replaced. The only light that worked was the one on the Lyon pk side but since something backed into it that no longer works. Plus the two lights on the pathway to the bridge have been reported by me twice and they still don’t work.
ReplyDeleteThe bridge is also used by lots of people on Wembley Stadium event days - it needs proper maintenance :(
ReplyDeleteMy family have live in the area for the best part of 100 years, they told me how nice the bridge once was.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a massive own goal it not being brought into the Wembley Park Development arena as it would help thousands of Alperton residents attend the Outlet etc without using their cars.
I regularly will walk back from a football match and hundreds will use the alley and bridge as they’ve parked in alperton, it’s truly embarrassing hearing them (most had walked over in daylight) now having to use phones in the brand new alley and bridge to light their way.
A huge issue is that it’s 2 bridges.
The smaller spans the TFL element and the larger spans network rail.
A few years ago it was repainted but only the network rail element.
Some joined up thinking is required here, I’m sure the local developers could help as it’s a great look re environmental issues.
I’ve also spoken in the past of giving local schools different squares so they could have artwork put on the walls.
There’s lots that can be done but needs more than one stakeholder at the table
Thanks everyone for your comments. I would lke to put in FoIs about this. Does anyone have a bridge number - I could not see one when I visited. Martin
ReplyDeleteAll the developers in Beresford Avenue might want to contribute for improvements to this bridge - it would provide a great pedestrian route from Beresford Avenue to Wembley High Road.
ReplyDeleteA new high line for Camden given the go-ahead last year, while an already existing high line at Wembley City looks like this?
ReplyDeleteStrategic neglect, alarming with ULEZ, GLA prioritisation of walking and masses of new car-free housing being built? No joined up thinking re housing growth and modes of transport/ movement infrastructure needed to support that.
For Central area footbridges, tail track welds new plate patches in regularly; I guess that is also done for the safety of trains passing underneath such bridges too?
I've complained to the council before about the horrendous litter problem in that area. Of course much of it is on the land belonging to the railway and they don't seem to be in a hurry to do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteBrent Council should make Network Rail do something about the rubbish, just the same as they would issue a notice to us residents if our gardens were full of rubbish like this.
ReplyDeleteThe Overground and Bakerloo lines were closed for a week before Christmas and another week after Christmas - they could have cleared some of the rubbish then.
I just found correspondence showing that a neighbour raised concerns about this bridge in 2018 but no major improvements were made and no maintenance has been carried out since then - I'm sure the highly paid Network Rail directors would not like this unsafe rusting eyesore where they live!!!
ReplyDelete