Agenda item

Rachel Bishop-Firth asked the Executive Member for Highways and Transport the following question:

 

Question

I understand that the Council and Network Rail have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a solution to the Tanhill Lane crossing, which currently has two separate bridges including a very steep and unsightly temporary bridge.  Could the Council please outline what this Memorandum of Understanding contains including the responsibilities of each party and any agreed timescales?

 

The Council has previously stated that it is not the Council’s responsibility to provide this bridge.  Network Rail, on the other hand, are very clear that they see a permanent solution as being the responsibility of the Council and have stated to me in response to my questions to them that ‘you will need to speak to the Council as it is their project to install the permanent bridge’. 

 

Minutes:

Question

I understand that the Council and Network Rail have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a solution to the Tanhill Lane crossing, which currently has two separate bridges including a very steep and unsightly temporary bridge.  Could the Council please outline what this Memorandum of Understanding contains including the responsibilities of each party and any agreed timescales?

 

The Council has previously stated that it is not the Council’s responsibility to provide this bridge.  Network Rail, on the other hand, are very clear that they see a permanent solution as being the responsibility of the Council and have stated to me in response to my questions to them that ‘you will need to speak to the Council as it is their project to install the permanent bridge’. 

 

Answer

The Memorandum of Understanding, the MOU, was signed off between Network Rail and the Borough Council in late 2016. It is quite a brief document only covering one A4 page. You asked what was contained in this document for “responsibilities” so I will quote from it exactly what it says.  It is Section 3 Responsibilities:

 

“NR (that is Network Rail) will build and wholly fund and maintain a temporary stepped footbridge at Tan House level crossing to mitigate the current safety risks associated with crossing the railway on the level in that location until such time as a permanent solution is put in place.” Which they have done.

 

“Network Rail and Wokingham Borough Council will collaborate on a permanent ramped footbridge solution upon the progression of development proposals for the multi storey car park and the life expiration of the existing stepped footbridge over the Gatwick to Reading line.  The responsibilities of Network Rail and Wokingham Borough Council in respect of the permanent ramped footbridge will be subject to discussion once the development of the multi storey car park has been commenced.”

 

So you can see that the development of the permanent ramped footbridge is not the sole responsibility on either the Council or Network Rail. It is a joint project between both organisations. 

 

The next item is around costs which is Item 4.

 

“Network Rail will wholly fund the temporary stepped bridge.

 

WBC and NR will approach funding collaboratively in respect of the permanent ramped footbridge solution.  The terms of the funding will be subject to discussion once the development of the multi storey car park has been commenced.”

 

As you can see once again it is not the sole responsibility of either Network Rail or the Council. It is the responsibility of both organisations and those joint discussions are continuing.

 

Supplementary Question

Yes we have got the multi storey car park in place now and I understand that the Council is going to be building a number of homes for sale on this site, and that does not include any social or affordable housing as I understand it.  Could the CIL money for these houses be used to finance the building of a permanent bridge?

 

Supplementary Answer

Certainly that could be one option; no question.  The biggest issue tends to be, for those of us who have worked with Network Rail, is that they are quite a bureaucratic organisation, worse than the Council, and it does take a long, long time to sort out the workings between Network Rail and anybody who is trying to work with them.  But it could possibly be an option.

 

I will get back to you on timescales.