Forum Topic

Repair and refurbishment of the bridge between Perryn Road and Goldsmith

Good news A network rail representative will be examining the bridge on Monday morning accompanied by Council officers. They have kindly invited me to join them. All those who use the bridge please restate your concerns so we have an up to date picture.

Maire Lowe ● 4456d20 Comments

1. the lighting on the bridge2. the rubbish by and under it3. the grime and urine. aka the smell...I think the wonderful Maurice is still getting the grafitti cleaned off it quite frequently - so not that at any rate.

Sara Nathan ● 4456d

The empty lager cans and that smell suggest the controlled drinking zone isn't enforced at all.  It's also a flytipping hotspot, so perhaps it's time for CCTV.  I can't imagine people hang out there just to drink lager, so perhaps there's some kind of dealing going on too.

Ben Smith ● 4456d

Does refurbishment mean to renew i.e. replace the stairs? There are places where the wood has started to rot. The new stairs/steps should have a white line at the outer rim in case the lighting might again be faulty or non existent. At least one would know where to put the foot in the darkness.

Christiane Thibaut ● 4456d

Good meeting with Network Rail, local environment chaps and community cops.the importance of maintaining the lighting was stressed, of painting the bridge white so it reflects light on it, of regularly clearing the locked off areas, of mproving security to the adjoining house. I pointed out the rotting and slippery steps but they thought that was structural and might take longer. I suppose if you slip and break a leg, this is evidence that Network Rail had been alerted to the potential danger!The police suggested (only half jokingly) that a portaloo would solve many of the problems. They agreed with me that they had seen NO evidence of drug dealing or even a whiff of marijuana - and they say they check it every day - though possibly not in the middle of the night. It's not a crime hotspot either - though the street drinkers are a bit of a nuisance, there is no evidence of any crime (as opposed to public nuisance)

Sara Nathan ● 4451d

Well that's a big improvement on the situation a year or so ago when it was a regular muggers alley. I still advise the kids to go the long way round, but it's good to hear the police being positive

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 4451d

It's great that Network Rail have agreed to a meeting but we do need to keep an eye to make sure the works are completed. Everyone seemed very positive including the police from East Acton so let's hope they will fix the lights in time for the change in the season. Jeremy, we were assured that no muggings have been reported, the only nuisance is two male drinkers who don't take their waste home with them.

Maire Lowe ● 4451d

I can only assume those drinkers don't have a sense of smell!Regardless of whether there is any reported crime, I never use the bridge when it's dark as there are often people hanging around at the top.

Ben Smith ● 4451d

But if it were to be well-lit, you probably wouldn't be worried, would you? We live in hope

Sara Nathan ● 4451d

Has any research been carried out as to how many people use this bridge.  The reason I ask is that perhaps all the money that is being proposed to be spent on the refurbishment may be better spent elsewhere.  Why not close the bridge and seal off the entrance at the St. Dunstans/Goldsmith Avenue end, letting the properties either side purchase the land?As to putting a loo at that location - that would encourage some rather unsavoury anti-social behaviour I would have thought.  Bearing in mind how many sex stalkers we have around these days!!Please can we have a survey before any of my Council Tax money is spent on the few people that appear to use the bridge.

Dee Cook ● 4450d

Many people seem to use the bridge. I was there maybe 20 minutes and there were at least half a dozen - very much not in peak.I know sense of humour not your strong point, Doris, but I am not wholly and absolutely certain the policeman had no portion of his tongue in his cheek.

Sara Nathan ● 4450d

A lot of people use the footbridge and it's a real time saver given the length of time the crossing barriers are down.

Ben Smith ● 4450d

Sorry, but have you ever used the bridge? Or more than once? In my family it is used on an almost daily basis by one or the other family member and whenever I use it, even from time to time in darkness, I meet people who do the same. I don't include the occasional drinkers.Be assured, your Council tax money will be well spent, all the more as using stairs is a very healthy thing for most of us. By putting a loo at that location, you might only attract more sex stalkers, if they are really around as you say. And drunken people in need of a quick pee will certainly not use a loo they have to pay for.

Christiane Thibaut ● 4450d

Ealing Council reported last night that Network Rail have once again gone back on their word to carry out their part of the refurbishment, clean out the cans and worse that lie beneath the bridge and replace the lighting. The excellent officer responsible was meeting with them today to have one more go, possibly offering to take a greater share of the costs. I requested our Councillors to finally write to the Chair of Network Rail asking him to intervene in this longstanding problem.  councillor Ghulaid thought this was funny and asks that residents complain if they are upset. I will send the Council officer all the complaints I receive (again), making note of numbers and types of complaints. Please do complain and copy your complaint to me. Councillor Ghulaid and his family may not use the bridge but many of us do and we would like to be safe.

Maire Lowe ● 4344d

Ealing Council reported last night that Network Rail have once again gone back on their word to carry out their part of the refurbishment, clean out the cans and worse that lie beneath the bridge and replace the lighting. The excellent officer responsible was meeting with them today to have one more go, possibly offering to take a greater share of the costs. I requested our Councillors to finally write to the Chair of Network Rail asking him to intervene in this longstanding problem.  councillor Ghulaid thought this was funny and asks that residents complain if they are upset. I will send the Council officer all the complaints I receive (again), making note of numbers and types of complaints. Please do complain and copy your complaint to me. Councillor Ghulaid and his family may not use the bridge but many of us do and we would like to be safe.

Maire Lowe ● 4344d

The problem with Network Rail is that we the travelling or rail-crossing public, are not their customers so they have not the slightest interest in our welfare or opinions - unless some accident results in expensive liability for them.I have always found them wholly unresponsive. It takes even persistent naggers like the wonderful Maurice Rohan  literally years to get them to do anything.

Sara Nathan ● 4344d

I saw a van parked down the perryn road side a few days ago and a couple of men looking like they were generally assessing it.  I wondered if they might be considering higher fencing to stop the persistent dumping of rubbish.  I suppose not then.I see it's been painted white, which makes it feel less dangerous, but it still smells like the toilet that it is.  I don't understand what makes people want to hang around their drinking lager.  Shame the "no drinking zone" is wholly unenforced. Perhaps it should have been painted pink?

Ben Smith ● 4344d

Could this be a contender for this: http://www.spacehive.com/initiatives/ealing?Tid=hive-81-3664974bRedesign it as a garden bridge: http://www.gardenbridgetrust.org/index.htmlWould be very happy to help with the pitch if anyone else likes the idea? No need to keep it as it is if we can get money to make it into something much lovelier and more useful?

Sanya Sheikh ● 4343d

Nice idea and might be worth a punt. Thing is Network Rail and the difficulty in getting them to low access to the bridge to clean and replace lighting. If the latest effort doesn't succeed, then we will have to try writing to the CEO. I don't supplementing local knows him personally? You never k n ow in Acton.

Maire Lowe ● 4341d

The CEO is Mark Carne - i've never heard of him.

Sara Nathan ● 4340d

I know his brother, Chilli con... :0)

Paul Higham ● 4330d