Closed
Vegetation obstructing NCN5 cycle route
Reported in the Grass category anonymously at 18:25, Fri 10 March 2017 using FixMyStreet Pro
Sent to Oxfordshire County Council 5 minutes later. FixMyStreet ref: 1000050.
The entire stretch of the NCN5 cycle path along the railway line from Sandford Lane to (almost) the railway line crossing the Thames is intermittently overgrown with brambles, hawthorn, etc, obstructing passage by pedestrians and cyclists. I have had what I thought was productive correspondence with Network Rail, who promised to deal with the problem last autumn. But they did nothing and now disregard my emails, service requests, etc. I think it is now time for the Council to issue a Section 154 (Highways Act 1980) notice to them requiring them to carry out the work.
Council ref: 1000050
Updates
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I am told I am meant to hear from the council within 10 working days. It is now 26th April - almost 7 weeks later - and not a word! One stretch of the track has been cleared by the good volunteer folk of Sustrans - but the people whose job it is seem unable to lift a finger.
Posted by Oliver Tickell at 18:00, Wed 26 April 2017
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This problem is really getting out of hand now: having to slow to a crawl at some points to navigate this route without my arms and legs or clothes being torn to shreds by the thorny vegetation. Could the original poster please put up the email addresses, phone numbers etc of the people they've been talking to at network rail? I would also like to badger them about this.
Posted anonymously at 10:12, Mon 26 June 2017
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Yes, ran this route yesterday (25th June) and the overgrowth of high brambles, hawthorn etc from Network Rail land has now been joined by long grass, nettles etc growing up from sides of path. This 'surface growth' is normally tackled by Sustrans and it's about time they put out the contract. I was corresponding with Painter Tamison <Tamison.Painter@networkrail.co.uk> but she no longer replies to emails. Website for complaints is https://communications-crm.custhelp.com/ . I just logged into my previous complaint only to see it had been closed, unresolved, with no reason given.
Posted anonymously at 11:21, Mon 26 June 2017
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Received this response just a few hours after emailing Sustrans:
Sorry for the delay in cutting the verges along the Kennington section of NCN5. Our contractor will be out there within the week. Best regards, Peter Challis Network Development & Land Manager, South 0118 958 1712 07824 395832 peter.challis@sustrans.org.uk
Hopefully it should be sorted by next week and I think it's now clear who to contact regarding this problem in the future.
Posted anonymously at 12:15, Mon 26 June 2017
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Congratulations to Sustrans for super-rapid response. If only Network Rail could do as well ...
Posted anonymously at 17:08, Mon 26 June 2017
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Fixed thanks to communication with Sustrans. THey have also indicated they will be repairing the potholes along this stretch.
State changed to: Fixed
Posted anonymously at 09:10, Tue 4 July 2017
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It's great that Sustrans are putting out the contract for the annual mow of surface vegetation on the side of the cycle track. This will clear exuberant growth of nettles, tall grass, etc. But it does NOT tackle the original issue raised here, of hawthorn, bramble and other high vegetation growing from Network Rail's railway land through the fence which is obstructing the path. Network Rail has done nothing at all to deal with this problem and the local authority has as far as I know taken no steps to require it to fulfill its legal obligations. As such this problem has not been fixed!
State changed to: Open
Posted by Oliver Tickell at 10:24, Tue 4 July 2017
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This report is not the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council and will be passed to the relevant organisation.
State changed to: not the council's responsibility
Posted by Oxfordshire County Council at 15:02, Mon 21 August 2017
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I understand that Network Rail will shortly be visiting the site however nothing has taken place to justify the notion that the problem has been 'fixed'. While the responsibility to do the work is with NR, the local authority is empowered to compel NR to do the work under S154 of 1980 Highways Act. Is this what Oxon CC has done? Which 'relevant organisation' has Oxon CC passed the matter on to?
Posted anonymously at 16:17, Mon 21 August 2017
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Or has Oxon CC merely passed it back to Sustrans? While Sustrans is responsible for the track itself, overgrowing vegetation from adjoining land (in this case railway land) is the responsibility of of the landowner in question, in this case Network Rail.
Posted anonymously at 16:20, Mon 21 August 2017
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.