Demolition plans are altered (From Oxford Mail)

Demolition plans are altered

5:00pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Didcot

VILLAGERS have won a battle with Network Rail to not demolish a railway bridge.

Residents in the South Moreton area were concerned they would face months of disruption and longer car journeys if rail bosses rebuilt Fulscot bridge, in preparation for the electrification of the line between Oxford and London.

The bridge, on a narrow unclassified road near South Moreton, crosses the main London-Bristol railway line, where trains approach speeds of 125mph.

Barrister Jeremy Burnett Rae is claiming victory after persuading Network Rail not to demolish the bridge but to alter it instead.

Mr Burnett Rae, of South Moreton, runs charity Oxfordshire Community Conservation and Rural Trusts and said last month that the work could mean the road over the bridge would be closed for months.

After Network Rail confirmed it had revised its plans, Mr Burnett Rae said: “Network Rail’s stated intention was to close the bridge for 10 to 12 weeks, and up to 20 weeks.

“We are pleased with the revised plan to jack up the bridge instead, closing it only for a fortnight.

“I understand that Network Rail could be saving £600,000 and I hope it spends some of that on a more sympathetic appearance of the new bridge.”

Mr Burnett Rae last year campaigned to save Didcot Magistrates’ Court but was unable to prevent it from closing due to cuts.

He said last month that the plan to close the road linking the A4130 near Didcot Tesco and South Moreton would have caused major problems for residents of North and South Moreton, the Astons and East Hagbourne. The 58-year-old claimed the road could have been closed for several months from 2013.

John Houston, who runs South Moreton Boxing Club, said: “We get a lot of our business from Didcot and if the road had been closed for months then that would have seriously affected us.”

Network Rail spokesman Sam Kelly said: “We can’t say at the moment how long the delays will be when the work is being carried out but replacement of the bridge would take longer.”

Network Rail has said a number of bridges along the railway need to be altered in preparation for electrification, to provide extra clearance for overhead wires to power trains.

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