Local Councillors Address Birkdale Railway Track Sycamore Hazard

Spring is a blooming but so unfortunately are sycamores along the railway track in Birkdale. 

Councillors alarmed that the public are being put at risk took matters into their own hands this weekend and cut back the most dangerous branches on the stretch leading down the Walk from Birkdale Village.

“There was the worry that someone would get an eye poked out coming from the station at night.” said Cllr Iain Brodie Browne, “ the situation had got out of control. "

Responsibility for cutting back the intrusive railway sycamores rests with Network Rail but as fellow Birkdale Liberal Democrat councillor, Simon Shaw, observes they are one of the most difficult public bodies to communicate with. 

“It is very hard to get through to a body that has no public face or profile but we have written to them in the strongest terms reminding them that the overhanging branches are a public liability," he says. “To be fair they do periodically cut the trees back, but this year that seems to have triggered explosive growth. We simply could not wait for an accident to happen.”

Councillors would like to see a permanent solution that eliminates the problem for good but are also suggesting that the Sefton Council can cut the branches back when Network Rail delay and charge Network Rail for the cost.

“It is important though, “ says Iain Brodie Browne , "that all of us keep an eye out for branches that impact on the highway and pavements whether on private or public land. It’s part of neighbourliness and I would encourage anyone who sees this problem to report it to councillors.”