Not long to wait, then?
The Waverley Web cannot help wondering how many more HGVs will add their names to the long list of vehicles to hit Farnham’s Wrecclesham Railway Bridge before Tory-led Surrey County Council pulls its finger out.
Waverley’s Service Overview & Scrutiny Committee members heard that 2045
had been marked on SCC’s highway calendar for works on the bridge! The accident black spot is included in the infamous Farnham Infrastructure Plan’s Pending Tray. Will we still have trains in 2045 WWonders?
Most residents will push up the Farnham Park daisies before improvements arrive on Wrecclesham’s never, never plan.
Cllr Carole Cockburn said Waverley had no power over the county council to implement Farnham’s Infrastructure improvements.
In recent years, numerous HGVs and Buses have hit the bridge – there have been well over 100 incidents.,
According to eyewitnesses, an HGV travelling north through Wrecclesham hit the bridge’s protective boom and turned over in this incident last year.
The A325 Wrecclesham Road was closed between the Coxbridge roundabout and the School Hill junction. A Nissan Qashqai was crushed, but its female driver was safely removed and taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
The dates on which the bridge has been hit were 24/9/14, 22/5/15, 27/5/15, 18/8/16, 23/5/17, 19/7/17, 4/9/17, 6/10/17, 10/11/17, 7/2/18, 11/7/18, 6/8/18, 6/12/18, 15/3/19, 4/4/19, 13/5/19, 07/10/21, 17/03/22, 11/07/22.
How often have vehicles hit Waverley’s Wrecclesham railway bridge?
Surrey County Council said it was up to Network Rail to find a way to make the bridge as bright and visible as possible – such as installing brighter signage and black and yellow chevron signing. It has met with Network Rail and has offered to support with this.
“The issues and solutions around Wrecclesham bridge remain complex. However, Surrey County Council has commissioned new investigations into longer-term options.”
Network Rail says it’s up to Surrey County Council to sort it out. Its statement said: “While Wrecclesham road bridge has traditionally been one of our most-struck bridges, the number of incidents have reduced over the years. However, we have seen a spike since last year.
Painting a bridge and cutting trees back will stop it from being hit. WW thinks not!
Wrecclesham Bridge cannot wait
“Local highway authorities have statutory duties related to road safety, including a duty to take steps to reduce and prevent accidents, promote road safety and secure the safe movement of traffic (including pedestrians) on their roads.”
Wrecclesham Bridge has a long proven record to confirm its potential for catastrophic accident leading to multiple fatalities. So why was the 20-mph limit dropped from consideration as a quick rational safety measure? Lower speeds give more time to react.
The pavement under Wrecclesham bridge is the most dangerous that I have ever experienced due to vehicles, especially HGVs, travelling at excessive speed without due care and attention. Yet students are constantly forced daily to accept this danger that HGVs create. Surrey CC isn’t responsible it is the person with the authority to accept this continuing pedestrian danger. What would be their action if a multiple pedestrian fatality accident were to occur because of the delay?
SOURCE NETWORK RAIL
Research by Network Rail has found that 32% of drivers admitted to setting off whilst not being aware of the height of their vehicle with 56% not considering low bridges when planning their journey. Yet HGV satnavs are available which clearly show low bridge risk. The Government should make them compulsory.
Between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, there were 1,833 bridge strikes reported across the network.
Network rail state that “the police consider a bridge strike to be a potentially critical incident.” Working with police forces, we have developed a Police bridge strike protocol, which details the roles and responsibilities of the respective control offices when responding to a reported bridge strike.
The pedestrian fatality risk is clear, the time for talking is way past, in the interest of too often forgotten public safety introduce the available mitigation measures without delay before any preventable deaths occur.