Today I went along the Stotfold Road to the top of Wilbury Hill where the Icknield Way emerges before passing through Letchworth. I walked along it westwards almost as far as the main line. I took some shots from a different perspective. To the right (north) of the Icknield Way you could see that the field had been pegged out for the chalk extraction. There was a public notice stating that Network Rail had applied for planning permission to quarry chalk and that any submissions had to be received by 21st May. This means that work can't start until at least the end of May making the proposed timescales very tight. This must have been a very late change of plan because the field was planted with wheat. This will make the removal of the top soil more difficult. It would surely have been easier to do when the field had been ploughed. I am guessing that the farmer will be fairly compensated for the loss of his or her crop.
First shot from the top of the hill looks towards the main line. Top centre you can make out the pile drivers and cranes. The route of the new line passes to the left just below the factories.
Here is evidence of the test boring
Looking down on the work site. Two very long permanent way trains were parked on the branch the whole time I was there. Rail replacement bus joy for some people I guess!
This is the access "road" to Wilbury Hill from the site
Work has also started on the farmer's accommodation underbridge. The field between the two embankments would have been completely cut off. There was also talk of it being used for access to the industrial area as currently the only way in is through residential areas constrained by the low arch railway bridge in Woolgrove Road.
Looking back at Wilbury Hill with the test boring in evidence. It will be interesting to compare this photo to one when the chalk removal has been completed.
Returning down the Stotfold Road a shot of the work site.
No comments:
Post a Comment