The ecological damage caused by TfL's obliteration of green corridors - a presentation by Emma Wallace

 

 

This presentation was made at a recent meeting of concerned residents who have witnessed the removal of much of the vegetation on railway embankments. TfL's contractors have removed shrubs and scrub as well as mature trees, even when they appeared not to impinge on railway tracks and were healthy. In the process, they have removed habitats of birds, mammals including badger setts and bat roosts. No proper ecological damage assessments appear to have been made. The presentation was compiled by Emma Wallace, Green Party GLA candidate for Brent and Harrow who set up the Facebook Group publicising the issue. 

The Facebook Group has more than 100 members who share information about the damage being done in their area and are planning future action. LINK

A petition on the issue was recently presented to Mayor Sadiq Khan by Green Assembly Member Caroline Russell:

We call on TFL and the Mayor of London to commit to the following:

1. Immediately stop the excessive removal of vegetation from trackside TFL embankments.

2. Ensure that TFL carries out biodiversity surveys before trackside work begins and that these are made easily accessible to the public.

3. Ensure that local residents are informed in good time before trackside work begins and given time to feedback questions and concerns to TFL.

4. Ensure that TFL contractors are trained in effective vegetation management and biodiversity preservation.

Please sign if you haven't already: https://actionnetwork.org/.../stop-the-removal-of-green...

Petitioners urge TfL to treat trackside green corridors as an ecological asset - please sign

 

A petition has been launched asking Transport for London to take a more ecologically sensitive approach to trackside maintenance. Safety must be considered but there is no justification for a scorched earth approach. Clearances like the above have already been seen along our stretches of the Metropolitan, Jubilee and Chiltern lines.

Introduction to the petition

TFL contractors have been repeatedly reported removing miles of trees and vegetation running along London’s Underground tracks, most recently along the Metropolitan and Chiltern Lines. These acts of environmental vandalism mean rich, green corridors are severely reduced, impacting residents’ health and mental well-being, as well as removing biodiverse habitat for local wildlife.  

 

With 55% of the London Underground track network recorded above ground, we recognise a need for trackside vegetation maintenance, but the actions of TFL contractors are often excessive and unnecessary. 

 

They are treating these rich, green corridors as more of a liability than an ecological asset in which to invest. 

 

London Underground’s existing green infrastructure amounts to 10% of all green spaces in the city and is an obvious way for the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to meet his commitment to improving London’s “biodiversity and ecological resilience” and become the first National Park City. We are in a climate and biodiversity emergency and both the Transport for London and Sadiq Khan must do everything they can to protect the habitat and wildlife we have remaining in London.  

 

To: Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan

We call on TFL and the Mayor of London to commit to the following:

1. Immediately stop the excessive removal of vegetation from trackside TFL embankments. 

2. Ensure that TFL carries out biodiversity surveys before trackside work begins and that these are made easily accessible to the public. 

3. Ensure that local residents are informed in good time before trackside work begins and given time to feedback questions and concerns to TFL.

 
4. Ensure that TFL contractors are trained in effective vegetation management and biodiversity preservation.

Please act now and protect out vital green trackside spaces and wildlife in London.

SIGN THE PETITION USING THIS LINK