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Author Topic: Taunton Bridge and the ongoing pigeon problem  (Read 12467 times)
JayMac
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« on: September 16, 2011, 16:14:38 »

From Breaking Travel News

Quote
Network Rail is spending ^300,000 on the project which will see the bridge repainted and installed with anti-pigeon nets to ensure it is clean and well-maintained in the future.

Work will now focus on the second half of the bridge after the first phase of improvements was completed over the weekend.

The bridge, on Kingston Road, is a gateway into the town and Network Rail is liaising with Project Taunton on the scheme as part of the wider re-generation of the area.

Improvements have been carried out on one half of the bridge at a time to minimise disruption. One lane of the road has remained open at all times and pedestrian access has been maintained throughout. This will be mirrored for the second phase of the scheme.

Kimberley Wilson, scheme project manager for Network Rail said: ^The bridge is an important part of the town and we are working with Project Taunton on its restoration. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact the work is having on the travelling public whilst ensuring it is completed as quickly and safely as possible. The scaffolding will now be transferred to the other half of the structure and we will continue our work to fully restore the bridge.^
« Last Edit: September 16, 2011, 19:20:39 by bignosemac » Logged

"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2011, 17:15:44 »

your obsessed with taunton !  Grin
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JayMac
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« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2011, 19:22:10 »

You know what, I don't think I've mentioned Taunton on the forum for a fair while. Certainly haven't been there for a couple of months.

Still my favourite place on the FGW (First Great Western) network though.  Wink
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« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2011, 19:25:49 »

Taunton Rugby Club does a decent Sunday Roast and you can watch the trains go by......
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« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2011, 20:24:44 »

i used to drive threw every day so in that respect i dont miss it, but i have used it for connecting services many a time and have fond memorys as it means escaping from a pacer :-)
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2011, 22:59:13 »

For reasons which will become clear to anyone who does a bit of research on this forum ... I'm not a particular fan of Taunton.  Roll Eyes Shocked Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2011, 14:04:11 »

From the Somerset County Gazette:

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Taunton Railway Bridge - half of revamp completed

THE first half of a ^300,000 job to scare roosting pigeons away from the bridge at Taunton Station has been completed.

One side of the bridge has been spruced up, with netting and spikes added to frighten off pigeons responsible for droppings on the pavement below.



Workers are now concentrating on the other half and hope to finish the whole job in Kingston Road by November.

One lane of the road has been closed during the scheme in an effort to keep disruption to a minimum.

Kimberley Wilson, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: ^The bridge is an important part of the town and we are working with Project Taunton on its restoration.

^We are doing all we can to minimise the impact the work is having on the travelling public whilst ensuring it is completed as quickly and safely as possible.

^The scaffolding has now be transferred to the other half of the structure and we will continue our work to fully restore the bridge.^

Work on the bridge is scheduled to be completed in November.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2011, 14:07:20 »

I've got to wealk under there next Saturday....
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JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2011, 14:21:58 »

In all my years living in Taunton I was only crapped on once by a pigeon and that was in the town centre. You should be okay walking under that bridge.

But if you're worried then you can avoid the bridge by entering/exiting the station using the slope to/from the south side of the station (platform 2).  Wink
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« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2011, 19:48:26 »

In all my years living in Taunton I was only crapped on once by a pigeon and that was in the town centre. You should be okay walking under that bridge.

But if you're worried then you can avoid the bridge by entering/exiting the station using the slope to/from the south side of the station (platform 2).  Wink

mate the walls and pavement were covered in it and it looked a mess this works needed and once done will be a long long time before it needs touching again
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JayMac
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« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2011, 16:45:12 »

From the Somerset County Gazette (19/10/2011):

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Pigeon beats ^300,000 bridge scheme

THIS coo-l bird breached a ^300,000 scheme to scare off hundreds of pigeons roosting under the railway bridge over Taunton^s Station Road ^ but it appears his days are numbered.



It was spotted sitting pretty all alone after managing to get inside netting recently put up to stop the birds returning.

Workers had completed work, which also includes painting and renovation, on one side of the bridge before the pigeon spotted a gap in the netting and flew back to his old haunt.

A Network Rail spokeswoman said: ^We suspect the new netting has been broken, quite possibly by a high vehicle that may have missed the sign warning motorists of the height limit of the bridge.

^Unfortunately more work will therefore be carried out to repair the damage and we^re currently exploring opportunities to do so without disrupting the traffic in the area."

 Grin Grin Grin
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« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2011, 10:55:05 »

This work has finally finished, hurrah!. All the scaffolding had gone and both lanes were open when i went to the Station on Monday afternoon, so that sees an end to the "how much extra time so do I have to allow to get to the station" debate and then ending up being there stupidly early.

I'm not sure when this work was supposed to finish as I can't find a reference to it now but I have a feeling it has overrun, I wait to be corrected.

As per the post above, it will be interesting to see how long it is before the pigeons are back in force.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2013, 23:32:53 »

The pigeons are back!  Shocked Roll Eyes Grin

From ThisistheWestCountry:

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Video: Pigeons back under Taunton bridge



The pigeons are back flapping around under Taunton Railway Bridge, in Station Road.

They returned to roost there after some of the netting put up 14 months ago collapsed on Friday.

The scheme to frighten them off - along with renovation and maintenance work - cost Network Rail around ^300,000.
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2013, 23:57:48 »

Statement 'a long time before it needs touching again' ..... Retracted.



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« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2013, 01:31:11 »

The amount of times I've been crapped on by those b*gg*rs is unreal. Having said that, last time I was crapped on Senior Trout paid for dinner which is a rarity so I considered this good luck Cheesy Wink Grin
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Grin Grin Grin Grin
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