Network Rail are putting up a galvanised steel fence in the middle of a Conservation Area.
We want them to stop, pull it down, and put it nearer to the track out of sight which is where the original one is.
It is important because this fence is destroying a beautiful place that is a haven for tourists, locals and wildlife.
On May 16th work started building a fence. Nobody was consulted and noone had been informed about it. Immediately the local councillors, residents, the former mayor all objected. Their requests for a site visit were all ignored. The workers refused to give their names, their bosses contacts, where they worked from, which department. They refused any information.
Dozens of residents contacted Network Rail via their helpline along with the councillors - still no site visit and the request for the work to be stopped was ignored.
No less than thirty letters later and still no phone call nor site visit. Rather than speak to the local parish councillors to talk about a fence that would be more in keeping, and trackside where the original fence is, Network Rail sent more men with bigger machines to, as one of their workers said, 'put it up quick'.
One week later and Den Lane as it was was destroyed. And still no call from Mr Carnes office.
Network Rail had already caused a lot of damage to the area, chopping down ancient trees in the middle of the nesting season. Here on Den Lane we have bats, owls, deer, foxes, jays and lots of other wildlife. Trees had been felled directly next to the roosting site of bats.
What Network Rail have done is shocking. They are doing this all over the country and it has to stop. And it stops right here. And we hope others will join us in challenging Network Rail's 'slash and burn' approach.
NOTE IMPORTANT
Network Rail have cited cases of people and children trespassing onto the track to justify their actions. We have checked with the Police and no cases have been reported to the local Police in the last 11 years.
Also Network Rail cite vandalism [their actions are an act of vandalism in fact] as another reason for the fence. However zero cases of vandalism to the track area have ever been reported. The only 'vandalism' that has occurred was the dismantling by locals of the Pointless Fence last week. That however was not vandalism, but an act of direct protest by people who felt they were being ignored. Vandalism is the defacing of property. Dismantling a fence in protest is not vandalism.
Also the fence is entirely pointless - reason?
You can access the line easily on the other side of the track from the bridleway. That is in fact where the fence needs to be built.
Mark Carne CEO Network Rail has wasted £30,000 of public money on...
The Pointless Fence.
And unfortunately for the residents of Uppermill, they have also wrecked Den Lane in the process.
via social media and in person using a mobile device in the location
press conference also
Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL
HUMAN FENCE
Fantastic turn out thanks for coming!
Lot's of new supporters - one new lady said 'I cannot believe what those idiots have done! Who in their right mind would put a cheap crap fence in such a beautiful place!? Can't believe how many trees they have chopped down just to put in a fence that serves no purpose whatsoever! Idiots!'
We agree. So let's get it shifted.
Please share this - https://www.facebook.com/saddleworthfriends/posts/2128580917363576
Welcome to H who just joined us making us 469.
We are in the papers at least twice this week as Network Rail stall and continue to mess us about.
https://www.facebook.com/saddleworthfriends/posts/2124671001087901
Ok here we go - This Sunday 13.50hrs next to the Pointless Fence, Den Lane Uppermill - off Moorgate Street - just one minute on foot after the houses, in between the canal and the railway. You know it you signed the petition!
https://saddind.co.uk/protestors-group-to-form-human-fence-in-ongoing-uppermill-row/
IMPORTANT URGENT!
Please keep this Sunday 13:50 hrs free - we need you to help with something very important.
Will only take ten minutes, will be a lot of fun and also will help what we are doing. Everyone is furious that after almost three months Network Rail have done nothing, zip, rien. We will not put up with that any longer.
Put it in your diary now!
Details follow.
Mr Mark Carne - just a reminder about this petition - it is to REMOVE the fence. Nothing else. For it to be MOVED. It makes it very clear on the petition which has now been sent to you. We did ask you to stop putting the fence up, but you ignored the dozens of requests to do that. Now we want it moving. We do not want it disguising with anything, we don't want any bullshit - this petition and all the people that signed it, plus the thousands that almost signed it but are with everyone on this point - want the fence MOVED.
We all look forward very much to that happening soon - so far it has taken 3 months for NOTHING TO HAPPEN whatsoever.
Could do better Mr Carne. Could do better.
[to the tune of Oh Come All Ye Faithful]
Why are we waiting,
Why are we waiting,
Why are we waiting
Oh why why why ... [repeat]
Hallaluja! We have had a reply from Network Rail. Having had to BADGER THEM YET AGAIN - three of us, Mary, Derek and myself, almost harrassment to get a response.
And what did they say?
'We are sorry you found you had to contact Mark Carne again .... we will respond... blah blah blah [sic.]'
What it did not say is W H E N ?
The chap we met eons ago Mr Pye was very nice.
Come on Pye - sort the bloody job out!
this was just posted on facebook:
Let's hope Network Rail get the next bit right, and not repeat the disaster on Den Lane [which we are still waiting to be put right - almost three weeks since our site meeting and still NO RESPONSE - back to their old ways already] or serious backlash will be inevitable.
https://saddind.co.uk/dont-fence-us-in-network-rail-confir…/
continued:
In the main Network Rail have already demonstrated how they operate, not listening to residents, ignoring local leaders, putting incorrect and innapropriate materials in the wrong place, trying to bully people into accepting what they do, strong arming residents using inflammatory language and claiming we are not 'trust worthy' to be consulted [that from a site visit - the bloody cheek of that idea after their behaviour!].
So we have asked them if they will 1. tell us exactly what they are doing and why 2. to do it properly this time so places like Den Lane are not wantonly destroyed, wildlife trashed.
We will let you know when we hear from them. We are in constant contact with the press who know exactly what is going on so everything is open to all.
We said all along that Network Rail's 'Slash and Burn' approach as experienced on Den Lane, Uppermill is going on all over the country.
Network Rail are planning to put up more fences in our area.
We have written to them today to ask where, when, why, what materials, are proper wildlife and ecological surveys going to be carried out, will the correct protocol with the local council be followed, will local people will be actually consulted for real this time [not like regarding Den Lane]? And a bunch more important and normal stuff.
You can read the article here https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2083319055223096&id=2056168661271469&ref=page_internal
We are in Oldham Times again today. The local council have taken matters to the secretary of state for transport after Emma and John spoke to them. They are citing serious concerns that what is happening here is happening all over the country which is what we said in the first place.
Well finally last night we got a site visit from Network Rail after almost 5 weeks of continuous requests.
The predominant tone was negative, virtually every suggestion negated instantly including felled trees to be replaced, hedges to be planted behind the fence so that eventually the fence could be removed, a sensible idea. Sensible but 'no' was reply.
However two ideas were put forward, and whilst the man who signed off the fence may or may not have been present, one Network Rail employee was clearly listening and taking note. And he was the decision maker. So we have written to Mark Carne this morning with a summary. We should hear back within a few weeks if not earlier.
Less than 40 people attended the community meeting and every single one asked for the fence to be removed. They all cited concerns about incorrect materials and damage to wildlife.
OK thanks for that spot on that is sorted!
We may have a site visit apparently one of our team just rang me - will let you know.
Gosh things take forever when it comes to Network Rail!
Why make it so complicated? Just come down, we won't bite!
Ok that has not worked - we deffo need minimum of three people next tue from 1500 - 1830hrs - can you be one of them?
This is no joke. We need your help - youve signed the petition now its time do actually do somat too please contact me on [email protected] it is most important.
sincerely,
458 Friends of Saddleworth
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Limited by Guarantee
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