We are so fortunate to have Riddlesdown Common on our doorstep and many of us took our daily exercise during the first lockdown on this amazing green space and I am sure many of us will rely on it this time around. When I visited on Friday it was really disappointing that our beautiful vista was somewhat compromised by portakabins, containers and vehicles. Around a third of the car park has been cordoned off and the end of the path also had equipment on it.
Network Rail are carrying out essential work to stabilise the cutting directly to the south of the Riddlesdown tunnel on the South Croydon to Uckfield Line. Whilst the tunnel opening is closer to Godstone Road, much of the disruptive impact, in terms of large items being stored, is on the northern end of Riddlesdown Common and this will be the case until March 2021.
The work will involve installing up to 8m long anchors into the ground at the top of the railway cutting and above the tunnel entrance. The anchors will support a netting system designed to catch any rock debris to prevent it from falling onto the railway tracks. To facilitate these works Network Rail will be clearing vegetation and trees along the cutting with much of the clearance taking place on the Gartson Lane (Kenley) side of the railway cutting.
Whilst most work will take place between 7am and 6pm, some work such as removing trees that are not safe to remove when trains are running, removing redundant trackside equipment and installing a temporary fence immediately adjacent to the tracks in order to protect the work force will take place between 1am to 4am.
With less space in the car park, I have already seen reports of many cars being parked on the verges, churning up the grass which will not be able to grow back over the winter. We don’t want to have the verges coned off, further impacting on the view, and we don’t want the road on to the Common closed to the public – so if there is insufficient space in the car park, please park considerately further away and add just a few minutes walk to your walk on the Common.
There is a 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 114141 that you can contact quoting Riddlesdown Tunnel Cutting Stabilisation Works.
