I have been working with local residents and Councillors Bob Price and Oscar Van Nooijen to get action on the noise, dust and nuisance caused by the virtual quarry operations at Hinksey sidings.  I have had extensive correspondence with Network Rail and ESW, pressing them to comply with reasonable requirements on limiting the noise from the operation, wagon movements and engine idling.

The truth is this operation should never have been put here in the first place, as I argued at the time.  Alternataive facilities, well away from residential areas, would have been the right place for basing the extensive repair work needed on rail lines, not bang alongside a densely populated neighbourhood, where it was bound to cause big problems.  What's more, the privatised rail companies should not have been given the permitted development rights previously enjoyed by the public railway.  Indeed, there's no real justification for them to have permitted development rights either.

One recent chink of light is that the City Council has now received legal advice to the effect that the non-railway activities on the site are not covered by the permitted development rights.  Let's hope this opens the way to effective planning and environmental control of the nuisance.  I will support the Council all the way in action to ensure residents can have the reasonable peace and quiet they have been denied.