Committee chair Huw Merriman wrote in a letter that the historical railways estate managed by Highways England should not be viewed “primarily as a risk to be minimised, but rather as assets to be preserved, repurposed for public benefit and enjoyed”. The letter is addressed to Transport Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton and Highways England’s acting chief executive Nick Harris.

It went on that many of the structures – of which 480 could be filled in or removed by the end of the decade – have “clear potential” to be reused in the future. “Historic bridges, viaducts and tunnels, for example, help to facilitate walking and cycling routes throughout the country,” wrote Huw Merriman, adding that demolishing structures could also prevent their use to reopen former railway lines.

The letter comes after campaigner HRE Group launched a petition earlier this year opposing Highways England’s plans for the historical railways estate. The petition currently has over 12,000 signatures.

Huw Merriman acknowledged that around a third of the 130 structures earmarked for work within the next five years “have no realistic prospect of offering any public value” and could reasonably be demolished or infilled. “But, in principle, effort should be made to preserve the estate and encourage local communities to make use of these assets.”

His letter requested information on what steps are being taken to transfer parts of the estate to local authorities and third parties, including community groups, and said that in non-urgent cases the future of the structures should be determined by “an open, transparent and democratic process”.

It also said public money should be used, where possible, to restore the assets, “especially in circumstances where the restoration costs are cheaper or equivalent to the cost of rendering these structures beyond use.”

A Highways England spokesman said that the vast majority of its work on the historic railway estate is to repair, strengthen and refurbish the 3122 structures it manages, adding that only 15 demolitions are included within its five year plan.

Infill or demolition are only considered on structures that are unsafe, the spokesman added. “In addition to our repair, strengthening and refurbishment work, we have plans to infill a small number of structures. Infills, some of which are only partial and retain pedestrian routes, aren’t permanent and are built in a way that allows for them to be reversed should organisations become interested in the structures’ future use.”

In other news, Highways England yesterday confirmed that stopped vehicle detection technology will be in place before any new stretch of All Lane Running smart motorway is opened.

It added that all existing all lane sections will have the technology fitted by September 2022, six months earlier than originally planned.

The pledge comes as the strategic roads company publishes its ‘Smart Motorways Stocktake First Year Progress Report 2021’.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps commented: “So called Smart Motorways started to be built in 2001 and I am determined to ensure that technology and exacting standards are in place.”

(Photograph: Alastair Wallace - Shutterstock)