Call for 'health hazard' railway bridge clean up

Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) are being urged to clean up a railway bridge underpass said to be creating a "health hazard" for residents.

The bridge over the North Circular Road has been monitored since an orange substance was spotted leaking from its weep holes on to the pavement, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Residents also say the underpass is "absolutely disgusting" as the drains are full and nesting pigeons leave behind droppings.

Network Rail has said the orange substance poses no significant risk and TfL has said it is going to improve the drainage and clean the area more regularly.

Network Rail was asked about the orange substance and in May 2024 it was confirmed to contain coliform bacteria and E.coli, but the reason for the colour has not been confirmed.

In response to the concerns over safety, Network Rail at the time said this was a "very common bacteria" that was "widely distributed".

The railway bridge is on the border of three north London boroughs – Haringey, Barnet and Enfield and carries the East Coast Main Line just south of New Southgate Station.

It is the responsibility of Network Rail, while TfL maintains the A406 North Circular which passes underneath the bridge.

The route is often used by locals to access Friern Bridge Retail Park.

Alessandra Rossetti, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Alexandra Park ward in Haringey, said she'd begun making enquiries about the issues in 2023.

Rossetti said: "It is shocking to me that years of neglect and a failure to take responsibility by multiple organisations have transformed a simple case of disrepair into a health hazard for residents.

"It isn't right that people in the area are having to suffer the consequences of this neglect.

"It is time for all stakeholders to stop shifting responsibility, pull together to address pigeons roosting, stop the leak, work on piping the drains and ensure proper maintenance of the footpath. Now is the time to take action."

Hazel Stokes, a resident, said she walks this route a couple of times a week to shop at the retail park, along with mums with prams, cyclists, and pedestrians who are all affected.

She said: "You're walking in pigeon poo, and everything that's thrown up from the road, it's absolutely disgusting, and it's been this way for years."

Barbara Waller, another resident, said she'd contacted Network Rail years ago to tell them it was "dangerous" and "horrible for people walking along there".

She added her two daughters "take their shoes off and wash their trolleys before they can come back into the house, it's absolutely disgusting".

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We are continuing to monitor and assess the level of risk, with our most recent analysis showing that there is no current significant safety risk that requires immediate attention."

It added: "We are regularly reviewing options for preventative measures if the situation changes.

"Our teams are working proactively on the drainage issue and are working with Transport for London to allow work to be carried out, and we will issue an update in due course."

TfL has promised to carry out additional cleaning due to the issues.

Andrew Wiseall, TfL's head of asset operations, said: "We are working to tackle the issues caused by pigeons at this location, which includes plans to improve drainage.

"Work on this is planned to start in the next six weeks and will make our monthly cleaning of the site more effective."

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