Security fence for vandals who cross the line

No more crossing the line: Councillors Peter Rush and Malcolm Bruce with local residents alongside the new fencing.

Vandals have caused the council to spend thousands of pounds on new high-security fencing at a Heywood railway line.

Local residents and Councillors are hoping that the £56,000 investment, for Pot Hall bridge, will end a string of anti-social behaviour incidents and attacks.

The investment, which will see the erection of a high-security barrier to stop vandals accessing the tracks, is funded by Rochdale Borough Council and the East Lancashire Railway board, and is backed by local councillors.

The fencing, which stands at 1.8 metres high, is now completed with high-strength paladin steel panels, which are among the strongest available for security fences.

Heywood North Councillor Peter Rush said: “The area around the bridge has been a hot-spot for trouble-makers for years and anti social behaviour has been at its worse in the last six months.

"Many nearby residents have come to me and rightly complained about youths getting onto the railway line and throwing stones at their houses. For example in Greenfield Court, one couple has had their patio door boarded up for the past three years because of persistent problems. This is simply unacceptable.

Councillor Rush added: “I know that our hard working officers have worked tirelessly to solve this problem in the past. Hopefully the new fencing will finally solve this problem once and for all.”
Andy Cowburn, general manager of the ELR, said: "We’ve set up post and wire fencing in the area before but that has been quite easy to break and it has got to the point where it is virtually non-existent in parts.
"That is why we have worked with the council to invest in this high-grade security fencing.
"It will be extremely difficult to gain access to the tracks or cross them, which is how the offenders in the past have been able to reach people’s houses and cause distress to residents.

"We hope we have found a good solution to many of the problems they have experienced."

The fencing has come about after series of meetings between residents, police, councillors and members of the board.

Donna Bowler, borough area renewal manager for Rochdale Council, said: "Together with East Lancashire Railway, we have paid for a new fence that runs from Pot Hall Bridge to Schofield Street, to prevent local youths from playing on the railway.

"In the past we had received complaints about anti-social behaviour taking place on the rail track, which was disrupting the train service, disturbing residents and putting the youths in grave danger.

"This fence will protect local youths by limiting access to this operational rail track and means that the train service can now operate in the safe knowledge that this area has introduced such an important safety precaution."