Another Plea Made to Make Footbridge Accessible
Network Rail urged to redesign plans for Brooks Lane crossing
Footbridge to Brooks Lane. Picture: Martin Addison
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October 10, 2023
Pressure is continuing to be put on Network Rail to reconsider plans for a new footbridge over a railway line in Chiswick.
The organisation has published its designs for an upgrade to the crossing between Brooks Lane and Strand on the Green School which is not accessible and Hounslow Council is urging a rethink.
An application (PALL/2023/2425) for prior approval was refused by the council on 18 September. This means that Network Rail will now be required to submit a full planning application which it is expected to do shortly.
Councillor Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, said, “Improved and accessible public transport options contribute to making our borough cleaner and greener and is an important stepping stone in the Council’s journey for tackling our climate emergency.
“ We are aware of Network Rail’s intention to replace the footbridge at Brooks Lane, Chiswick. The bridge proposed by Network Rail would be of similar design to the existing one and would therefore not be fully accessible. The proposed bridge would be higher and still only provide stepped access across the railway. “
Local resident, Andrew Ross, submitted an alternative accessible design which would have required use of land owned by the council and the freeholder of Chiswick Village, but Network Rail said that it only had funding for the proposed design and was unable to consider alternatives. It emerged that across the country it was planning upgrades at 17 sites where the crossings would remain inaccessible.
Mr Ross says that Network Rail is rushing through the replacement knowing that a Public Inquiry has been ordered by the government into the company’s alleged breach of the requirements for access both under the Equality Act 1910 and the Disability and Discrimination Act.
Cllr Dunne added, “The Brooks Lane Footbridge is heavily used by local residents, including parents whose children attend Strand-on-the-Green school many of whom have prams and who are seriously disadvantaged by bridge’s design. This design also makes it impossible for many mobility impaired people to cross the railway at Brooks Lane necessitating a long diversion.
“Objections received to the recent prior approval application submitted by Network Rail show it is clear that there is a local desire to create a fully accessible bridge to better serve the local community.
“Network Rail have now advised us of the current of the condition of the bridge and that it is approaching the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. This must be done in a way which meets the needs of its users, however. ”
Network Rail has yet to submit its planning application for the scheme but it is believed that the designs will be identical to those presented earlier. It is understood that the lack of step free access over the bridge would not be sufficient grounds for the borough planning committee to refuse permission for the replacement footbridge.
If the new footbridge is approved then it is expected that it will be completely shut for ten weeks.
We have contacted Network Rail to ask if it will be reconsidering its plan in light of the plea from the council.
We have also asked for comment from Network Rail’s Built Environment Accessibility Panel as to the level of input it had on the current design.
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