Islington Green Party activists spent much of the summer successfully fighting Network Rail’s campaign of tree clearance in Islington – but it now appears Network Rail has not learned its lesson, with yet more destruction and broken promises last weekend.
The site of the latest devastation is St Paul’s Road, where residents awoke without prior warning to find that many mature trees were being torn down by Network Rail operatives. In some cases, the trees were growing in residents’ gardens.
Back in May, at a public meeting attended by Islington Green Party and by a large number of concerned residents whose gardens adjoin the track, Network Rail promised that it would consult residents at a further meeting before carrying out any major works to their gardens and before removing trees at the site. Historically, the gardens were owned by Network Rail and leased back to residents but in most cases, the residents have been tending to, and enjoying uninterrupted use of, the gardens for many decades.
Emma Dixon of Islington Green Party said “Not only has Network Rail gone back on its promises, but it has now stated that it will be taking over the whole of the gardens this coming weekend. This gives residents only a few days to arrange for the storage of property such as garden sheds. Even worse, it means that residents will lose their beloved gardens for an extended period – and possibly permanently.
The residents of St Paul’s Road have worked hard to try to save their trees and gardens. These latest developments show that Network Rail is answerable to no-one and has no concern whatever for residents affected by its work.
We call on Network Rail to halt all works at the site; to hold the meeting with residents that was promised; to set a fair and workable timetable for any necessary works while ensuring proper protection of residents’ property; and most importantly, to guarantee full resinstatement of their gardens for all residents when the works are complete.”
