Rumblings over railway land row

Residents of Fairhope Avenue from numbers 18 to 68 have received letters from Network Rail about drainage land behind their properties.

Homeowners whose houses back onto the railway line say they have cleared weeds and maintained parts of the land which runs behind their houses.

Now, Network Rail has sent letters to homes from 18-68 Fairhope Avenue, saying any fencing or building on this land has to be put back  to its original position so they can carry out drainage  work.

A resident said: “They need to come and put proper fencing up, why after  16 years are they doing this now?

“ We have got it nice and tidy, no thanks to Network Rail, they should be paying us.

“We have kept it nice and clean and tidy and now they are penalising us for helping with their land. “

Another resident said: “They are frightening people with the letter, if they think there isn’t much concern they will do it, if there is a lot of fuss they won’t bother.”

Network Rail were not available for comment as we went to press.