OREANDA-NEWS. Network Rail has taken the decision to withdraw its planning application to construct a temporary road near Parkhead Primary School in West Calder.

The planning application, which is currently before West Lothian Council for determination, would have enabled the construction of a diversion route carrying traffic from the A71 during the closure of the bridge over the railway.

The bridge must be rebuilt to create enough height for the electrification of the railway line beneath. Network Rail also needs to carry out extensive mining remediation work under the bridge abutments to ensure the ongoing integrity of the structure. 

Work on this project is scheduled to begin in January 2017, but it has become clear that because Network Rail has been unable to secure the required access from the council to undertake the mining remediation works, the project cannot now achieve the programme dates outlined in the application.

Representations from the local community have also indicated that residents and parents would prefer Network Rail pursue other options for rebuilding the structure.

For these reasons, Network Rail has withdrawn the application and is now in a position where the only viable option is to seek the full closure of the A71 for a period of 16 weeks to enable the bridge work to proceed.

Michelle McCaig, Network Rail’s project manager for the Shotts Line Electrification bridge clearance programme said; “As we have previously acknowledged, the A71 is a critical link in the West Lothian road network and we do not take the decision to withdraw the planning application for the temporary diversion road lightly. We do this mindful of the impact that this potentially will have for both road users and those communities adjacent to the proposed diversion route.

“At this point, having not been granted access to undertake the mining remediation works, the programme we had outlined to the council in the planning application is unachievable and consequently we now have to take a different course. We believe this is the best way forward in terms of minimising the overall disruption that this project will have on the community.”

Network Rail will now work with West Lothian Council to put in place an appropriate ‘all vehicle’ diversion and the company will  distribute full information on a revised programme of work, timescales and appropriate diversion information as soon as possible.

About Network Rail

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain's railway - the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.65bn journeys by rail every year and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We employ 36,000 people across Britain and work round-the-clock, each and every day, to provide a safe, reliable railway.