Works near Chedworth - rail clearup has started

The Network Rail works next to Chedworth ground to a halt a while ago when the main contractors Carillion went into bankruptcy. The good news is that Network Rail's new contractor is now on site for the remaining 4 weeks  or so of work, so we hope to see an improvement there soon.

On the project to electrify the main line, the Besom Lane temporary compound just across the footbridge from Shire Way is expected to remain until February 2019.

Works near Chedworth - less mud but rail clearup delayed

We're glad to see that there is visibly less mud on Westerleigh Road from the tipping at Beech Hill Farm. The road is generally being kept pretty clear, though there have been occasional lapses.

On the Chedworth side the Network Rail works are still at a standstill following main contractors Carillion going into bankruptcy. The good news is that Network Rail have appointed a contractor for the remaining 4 weeks work, so we hope to see an improvement there soon.

On the the project to electrify the main line, the Besom Lane temporary compound just across the footbridge from Shire Way is expected to remain until February 2019.

Mud success

Focus Team members Louise Harris, Claire Young and Paul Hulbert check
out the rocks they picked off the road - all big enough to crack windscreens

Good news for anyone driving on Westerleigh Road or walking along the pavements - the mud and stones are being cleared and tipping stopped until further notice.

Local people were horrified when tipping started at Beech Hill Farm three weeks ago, leaving the roads strewn with mud and debris. Claire Young raised it with the council's planning enforcement team and since then has been continuing to share residents' complaints with them and Street Care, the team that looks after our roads. She also wrote directly to Keyway, the firm carrying out the tipping.

When Claire spoke to the Head of Street Care last week he told her that Keyway had been told to get a sweeper and team of workers with shovels out that day to clear the roads, otherwise the council would do the job and charge them for it. Even by the time this picture was taken the situation was much improved and as you can see a sweeper was in action (we were photobombed!)

Now someone has been out with a pressure washer hosing down the pavements and a sweeper has been cleaning all the roads around and leading to the land fill. Keyway have confirmed to Claire that they have closed the tip until further notice - but there's a lot more landfill to be done.

Mud firm told to clear it up or pay

The company doing landfill at Beech Hill (the other side of the railway from Chedworth) and spreading all the mud up Westerleigh Road has been told to clear it up or pay for South Glos to do it.

After Focus Cllr Claire Young intervened, South Glos Streetcare put their own sweeper out on Friday and Keyway have been told to get a sweeper and a team out with shovels to clear the road today or the council will do it and re-charge them for it.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

The part of Westerleigh Road alongside Chedworth is getting plastered with mud from the works on the other side of the railway arch at Beech Hill Farm. They are supposed to have wheel washers, but if they are there, they're not working very well! There's a road sweeper going up and down but it's not dealing with the situation properly.

There is mud all along the Chedworth pavement and on roads up to half a mile from the site. What's more they're not sticking to the agreed HGV routes - lorries are coming in down Westerleigh Road. Cllr Claire Young of the Focus Team has raised this with the relevant officers at South Gloucestershire Council, who have promised to investigate.

Mud, mud, glorious mud

Network Rail's contractors have caused more damage to the grass than we anticipated, but we're on the case.

As you can see, the big tracked vehicle and the tractor and trailer have been taken further into the mouth of the Lower Meadow than we had anticipated, and the whole entranceway is just mud.

There are also tracks on the near corner of the Common and to the side of the roadway in between.

The big tracked vehicle will be removed from the Common side of the bridge on Saturday night, crossing the railway track to get back to the compound. The tractor and trailer will finish their work on Monday. On Tuesday there should be a pavement sweeper on site to clean the mud off the tarmac roadway.

We are meeting the site manager on Monday morning to discuss the RADAR gate and ground reinstatement. The site manager appreciates that we're not best pleased, while we do understand the practical difficulties of manoeuvring such large vehicles in such tight quarters.

On a related local note, we have also met South Glos this morning about the boggy patches on the "Ashtrack" footpath from Wapley Bridge towards Goldcrest Park. They have measured it up and agreed the necessary works, and they anticipate doing the work in June/July when Network Rail are well clear and the ground has dried up. Some parts of the path will just be topped up, the worst parts will be reconstructed and drainage will be put in at one or two points.