This fence will bring yobs to our doorstep (From Warrington Guardian)

This fence will bring yobs to our doorstep

HARTFORD residents are concerned that an imposing fence put up alongside the railway in Cuddington will be extended along the track to tower over their homes.

They believe that Network Rail will erect 6ft steel fencing along the railway line between Chester and Manchester where it passes through built-up areas, after claiming that these areas are high risk.

A Hartford resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I've lived here for 30 years and never seen anything happen, and we've only got a low fence now."

He said the properties that would be affected by the fence have an embankment at the end of their gardens, which goes down to the track, and the fence would be put up on top of that.

He said: "People used the embankment during the war to grow vegetables, and Network Rail would be reclaiming it.

"If they're worried about the track, they could put the fence at the bottom of the embankment."

Another Hartford resident concerned about the fence said: "This is going to affect the whole area - where you get houses you're going to get a very tall fence, and people with houses don't want a large fence.

"I know safety is paramount and the fence does need replacing, but not like this."

She also suggested that the fence would attract trouble, rather than discourage people from trespassing on the track.

"Fences attract attention from yobs - it's a challenge to youngsters, they'll be up and over it, they like challenges," she said.

A spokeswoman for Network Rail the company has a legal obligation to stop people getting on to the line and endangering themselves and train passengers.

She said: "Our statistics show that on the whole railway crime is falling and this is partly down to better fencing. There is no evidence to show that this type of palisade fencing encourages groups to congregate and anti-social behaviour. In fact our research suggests it has the opposite effect."

gbebbington@guardiangrp.co.uk