Guest post by Emma Wallace of Harrow Green Party and the Green Party candidate for the Brent and Harrow GLA Constituency seat
Just
over a week since its launch, the petition calling on Sadiq Khan and the TFL to
‘Stop the Removal of Green Habitat’ has garnered over 500 signatures LINK .
This response shows that the wholesale
destruction of habitat along our London Underground embankments is strongly opposed
by many people from across London and the rest of the country. We
have heard numerous similar stories to the one most recently reported on along the
Metropolitan line near Pinner LINK, from Wimbledon Park on the District Line LINK
, to Hackney Downs and stations along the Overground Line LINK and along the West and North of the Central and Piccadilly Lines. These reports reveal a similar lack of public
consultation with local residents and the resulting distress caused by the destruction
and removal of sound and visual barriers that had been provided by the lineside
foliage. There has also been an absence
of ecological surveys carried out by TFL before work commences, with contractors
obliterating everything in their paths and showing little awareness of the
biodiversity or wildlife they are displacing, including nesting birds or badger
sets.
Network
Rail has also been accused of devastating much of its lineside embankment
greenery over recent years, carrying out a “secretive nationwide felling
operation”, as reported in The Guardian 2018 LINK .
This has caused much upset with both residents
and train passengers, who have repeatedly decried the raising to the ground of the
once verdant banks running along the hundreds of miles of our national train network. The destruction along Lincolnshire railways in
2019 even led Tory MP, Sir John Hayes to state that the trackside vegetation
removal looked like “a scene from Hiroshima” and to call for an urgent meeting
with the then Environmental Secretary, Michael Gove LINK.
In
response to public pressure, Network Rail published a new environmental
sustainability strategy in December 2020, including a ‘Biodiversity Action Plan’
LINK . This plan contains a bold vision to
improve the biodiversity of plants and wildlife lineside, committing “to the
key goal of no net loss in biodiversity on our lineside estate by 2024, moving
to biodiversity net gain by 2035”. This
culture change within Network Rail, viewing lineside vegetation as an asset,
not a liability, must urgently be adopted by TFL and the Mayor of London when
managing London Underground lineside vegetation. The last London Underground
Biodiversity Action Plan (LU’s BAP) was published in 2010 LINK
and consequently urgently needs to be addressed and updated. TFL must use the recent Network Rail example to
rethink its biodiversity management policies to meet their commitment to protecting
and enhancing London’s wildlife and green spaces.
Darren
Johnson, Green Party Assembly Member 2000 and 2016 and Deputy Chair of the
Environment Committee, overseeing the 2012 ‘On the Right Lines?’ report LINK , has backed our campaign, commenting on the
petition: “Very happy to support this. Something I worked on when I was a
London Assembly Member. Of course, vegetation removal is vital for rail safety,
but the scorched earth approach is not the way.” We have been overwhelmed by the support for
the petition and many comments left, revealing how strongly people feel about
this issue and their desire for TFL to change their policy on excessive vegetation
embankment clearing and the need to replace it with a more nuanced and
sustainably managed policy, which recognises and values these precious green corridors.
See below a selection of people’s comment on the
petition:
·
“The
opportunities for ecological enhancement and support of biodiversity along rail
lines are huge and cannot be overlooked! Partner with those who know, care and
have the energy and resources to support projects.” Lisa Shell
·
“We’re
in the midst of a climate and environmental emergency and losing wildlife and
biodiversity at an alarming rate. This type of habitat loss in totally
unacceptable and must be stopped.” Jean Gerrard
·
“Dreadful
situation! I live right next to the train lines. The noise is really bad now
and I can see all the passengers on the train from my kitchen window. Such a sad loss of greenery. The birds have
been going crazy too. What is TFL doing about rectifying this? I'm heart broken.”
Pauline D’Jemil
·
“Please
stop this unnecessary assault on what is left of our green spaces.” Ann Wilson
·
“Green
corridors whether railways, canals or rivers are vital to wildlife and mature
trees reduce noise nuisance from railways and air pollution.” Martin
Francis
·
“You're
trashing animal habitat, increasing pollution and noise nuisance. Stop it.” Anne
Heritage
·
“Stop
making the world into a concrete jungle!” Asha Osman
·
“So
depressing to see. Is there any one in authority who cares about our
environment?” Jean Pannell
·
“Please
try and think more creatively. Safety is a priority but there are surely
alternatives that could be adopted. Shrubs and under planting wild grasses and
low growing flowers etc.” Julie Curtis
·
“This
has to stop; the railways are a natural wildlife corridor and should be
protected from excessive and unnecessary cutbacks.” Paula
Hermes
·
“Vital
for so many reasons. We all know what they are. Please stop cutting down the
beautiful vegetation. It’s always such a joy to see.” Sarah Holford
·
“Stop
destroying everything. Everywhere I look I see deforestation, destruction, the
silent absence of life. Rail verges are one of nature’s last remaining
lifelines. It costs nothing just to let it live. For our children and for the
climate, please just stop this mindless destruction.” Anna Scrivenger
·
“We
need these green corridors to cut pollution, keep noise down and a respite for
nature.” Linda Quin
·
“These
are critically important wildlife corridors.” Paul Allan-Smith
·
“Why
on earth?? Railway embankments are some of the few untampered wildflower
habitats left - leave them alone!!” Kate
Hopkins
·
“I
should like to see evidence of 'problem' trees and certainly do not want ANY
vegetation removed in future without a previously approved assessment.” Keith Gissing
·
“We
are losing trees and green spaces at an ever-increasing rate. Please don’t make
things even worse.” Linda McKeller
·
“Trees
and natural vegetation provide a vital transport corridor for animals and
absorb excess rainwater.” Marc Sheimann
·
“Yes,
stop cutting our trees down HS2 is doing enough damage to our nature.” Erica Locke
·
“We
are currently seeing an unprecedented number of wildlife habitats decimated.
Clearing TfL railway corridors of trees and hedges just adds to that and our
climate crisis. Please consider planting more vegetation and maintaining what
you have.” Elaine Persell
·
“I
realise that trackside trees shouldn’t be a safety’ threat, but recently the
decimation of lineside vegetation has been completely over the top.” Terry Hooper
·
“This
is criminal. I know safety is paramount, but this is more than that. Losing
pollution soaking trees, habitats, shade, aesthetic enhancement is wrong.” Polly
Mortimer
·
“We
need every INCH of green in this supposed green and pleasant land, especially
in London which would choke on its own effluent if not for the green spaces as
yet untouched by speculators. In a world where homeowners are ripping up their
gardens to put down gravel, we need green that produces fresh air more than
ever.” John Mangan
·
We
desperately need more biodiversity in our cities! Please use your brains and
think of what you'll be leaving for future generations.” Julie Barber
·
“It's
very important that Sadiq Khan shows us that he will stop the degradation of
our precious environment, otherwise he'll not be voted for again!” Miranda James
·
“Every
tree possible is needed for reducing pollution and climate change and for
wildlife habitat. Please stop cutting them down.” Lisa Penney
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition so
far. Please sign if you haven’t yet already
done so. Thank you, Emma Wallace
