Havering (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Havering Friends of the Earth criticizes Network Rail for carrying out works without notifying the community, raising concerns over transparency.
The campaign to prevent Network Rail from destroying good trees along the back of the push and pull line has been actively supported by Havering Friends of the Earth members.
Rosina Purnell said:
“Network Rail seems to think they can demolish trees and vegetation without regard for anyone.
This last weekend they devastated vast areas of the Liberty Line embankments, having informed nobody – including local residents, local environmental groups, the council and MPs. This continues to be an outrage of massive proportions.
We have scrutinised their environmental survey and they have ignored several worrying aspects of that. We can’t get answers from them about serious damage to wildlife which the report highlighted and they have blanked.
This has meant that wildlife habitats have been destroyed as well as valuable trees adjacent to the track with no justification.”
He said that not only is Network Rail vandalising trees and vegetation, they are also making themselves unaccountable for the damage and distress they have caused to hundreds of Havering residents.
What are the key points of the contemption?
Residents were disappointed because they were not informed about the tree-cutting operations.
Tree clearance disrupts wildlife corridors and puts wildlife habitats at risk.
The tree cutting is being opposed by activists, including a Facebook page called “Stop Network Rail’s Environmental Destruction.”
According to allegations, Network Rail violated earlier pledges to involve and consult locals before starting such projects.
According to local MPs and residents, the tree clearance process has gone too far, destroying healthy trees in the process.
There have been questions over whether Network Rail is adhering to its legal duties to protect the environment.
Vegetation control is crucial for safety and delivering a dependable service, according to Network Rail.
According to Network Rail, it has no plans to cut down every tree on its estate and does not have a nationwide tree-felling program. Network Rail claims that ecological assessments are carried out to find sensitive habitat sites, protected species, or nesting birds.
According to the company, it seeks to achieve the ideal balance between environmental protection and safety, and it welcomes feedback to further its procedures. Network Rail has acknowledged that contractors working for them neglected to adequately inform locals about the work.
Local MPs Andrew Rosindell and Julia Lopez have condemned Network Rail’s tree clearance and voiced their support for the local community.
How has the public responded to the network rail’s tree felling program?
The majority of the public’s reaction to Network Rail’s tree-cutting initiative has been unfavourable, showing concern about the effects on the environment and a sense of incompetence.
Objections have been raised by locals and environmental organizations, especially in light of recent instances where trees were felled without giving the community advance warning.
As a result, there have been claims that Network Rail disregards the fauna and ecosystems in the area.
A noteworthy indication of public discontent is a petition that has collected over 60,000 signatures, demanding that Network Rail suspend its widespread tree clearance operations across the UK.
A dispute in Bournemouth over the removal of trackside trees that caused concerns about the wider effects on tree populations and wildlife habitats along railroad lines served as a contributing factor in the creation of this petition.