Now that the weather has deteriorated we have had to suspend the use of
mechanical plant to avoid damaging the trackbed and on safety grounds.
Unless there is a significant period of dry weather we will be unable to
restart this work until the spring.
The opportunity is now being taken to tidy up the banks and embankments. Using a combination of strimmers and hand tools, vegetation that has grown up during the past two years is being cut back and burnt. This kind of work is particularly suitable for anyone who is steady on their feet and doesn't mind working in the (sometimes very) fresh air.
Work commenced near the cattle creep near Hazelden Farm and will continue north towards Imberhorne tip. If we complete that before the weather improves then a start will be made working south from Hazelden. The picture was taken looking north towards the tip before work started.
Just a short note regarding the previous news "First pass clearing
Foster's Tip". This has been interpreted by some of the national
railway press as indicating that we are half way through clearing
Imberhorne tip. Unfortunately these are two entirely separate tips, and
Imberhorne tip will be a much bigger undertaking!
We have completed the first "pass" removing the waste dumped in the cutting
by Ash Lea Farm. Progress has been restricted by the availability of plant
to cart the excavated material away.
We have now commenced a second "pass" to remove further material and we
have located the base of the original bank in this area.
There is still a considerable volume of material to remove. For many weeks
the weather on Saturdays has been favourable for our work, however, we will
not be able to continue once the real winter rains set in.
The photograph shows that we are beginning to see something approaching the
original width of trackbed.
Work is also now being undertaken by contractors on the refurbishment of
Hill Place viaduct on the outskirts of East Grinstead. This photo by Jon
Bowers shows progress in clearing the vegetation which was damaging the brickwork, and repairs to the parapet, including the relacement of original blue
capping bricks. It must be emphasised
that there is absolutely no access to the Viaduct as it is a working
site.
In recent weeks we have commenced excavating the waste that had been dumped
on the trackbed on the land that was purchased from Ash Lea Farm. This will
take some time as it comprises a mixture of soil, scrap metal and general
farm waste. Hopefully the weather will continue to remain favourable as
heavy rain will cause the formation to become soft and deteriorate under the
weight of the JCB and dumpers. When it becomes too wet we shall stop this
type of work until it is suitable to use the plant again.
The picture on the left was taken on Saturday 24th August and is looking north
between Ash Lea Farm and Mr. Steer's land. The current work can be seen on
the left. Once the first "pass" is complete a second pass will be made to
reinstate the alignment of the original cutting. The current rate of
progress is about ten meters per day so there is still a considerable amount
to do.
The good news is that the large majority of callers were very supportive of Bluebell and welcomed its arrival. Several neighbours asked if we could leave a screen of trees which we have accommodated but have left a "corridor" by the base of the viaduct and ensured the clearance is as environmentally friendly as possible. Fencing has been re-instated in accordance with the requirements of the HSE.
We would like to remind everyone that the viaduct is now a construction site and access will not be permissible under any circumstances unless approved and under escort.
Lack of news does not mean that nothing has been happening during the last
few months. We have been tidying the trackbed and banks that have already
been cleared. We have also installed a drain across the width of the
trackbed south of Mr Steer's land to link with the drainage ditch that flows
along the boundary of Ash Lea Farm. This has enabled the land purchased from
Mr Steer to be scraped down to the original trackbed and the water here now
drains along the east side. On 11th May work finally started on the removal
of the dam across the width of the trackbed at Keepers. This will take some
time but will allow the drainage north of the dam to be improved.
The photographs taken last Saturday (courtesy of Nigel Longdon) show the
removal of the dam which formerly retained a large pond on the trackbed at
Keepers.
Archive 5 (2004 & 2005).
Archive 4 (2003).
Archive 2 (April - Dec 2001).
Archive 1 (October 2000 - February 2001).
An eariler report on progress (April 2000) from Extension Director Jim Turtle is in the News Archive.
Page edited by Richard Salmon.