A man who lives opposite the construction site for Ashley Down Station has complained about the noise pollution which he said is disturbing his sleep. Work to build the new station is set to continue into 2024 and is taking place on the site of the former Ashley Hill railway station which closed to the public in the 1960s.
Once complete the station will initially be served by trains operating between Filton Abbey Wood and Temple Meads. Overnight works on selected Saturdays are set to continue until Christmas, and in early June 24-hour construction is planned for 16 consecutive days.
David Trew who lives on Station Road has told Bristol Live the work that is currently being carried out from midnight on Saturdays until 7am on Sundays is ‘not acceptable’. He said that he took his concerns to National Rail and the noise complaints team at Bristol City Council but said he has not been provided with any resolution.
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Mr Trew said that after experiencing a stroke in 2019, getting a good night’s sleep has become more important for him. But while he was patiently waiting for Network Rail’s response to his complaints he received a letter last week informing him of two weeks of 24-hour construction which he described as ‘appalling’.
The letter from Network Rail dated May 2, outlines the timetable for construction works taking place until September and informs neighbours of two community drop ins taking place over the next week. The 24-hour working period, which is set to commence on June 3, has been outlined as an ‘incredibly busy period’ with both of the new station’s platforms set to be completed by June 19.
Once this ‘main blockade’ period is complete, Network Rail will move on to what has been called the ‘post blockade’ construction phase which will involve the installation of footbridges, lifts, lighting and electrical signage. This phase which will involve overnight construction work on selected Saturday evenings is set to continue until Christmas.
Network Rail has apologised in advance to neighbours and stated in the recent letter that the company will do its best to keep ‘all unnecessary noise to a minimum’ and is limiting vehicle movements via Station Road. But the letter added that bringing materials and equipment via Station Road is also ‘unavoidable’.
Mr Trew, who said he had no problem with work being carried out during daytime hours, claimed that the railway company has not addressed his concerns about noise pollution. He said: “Many of us are unable to sleep due to the noise from the site - bleeping machinery, the pounding, men shouting at each other, the bright lights, and the general noise of a station being built.
“I have remonstrated with the workers directly, to be greeted with shoulder-shrugging. I have phoned National Rail directly, to be told that National Rail has permission from the government to build this station, and a contract with the council to work on weekdays.
“As such, I was politely told to 'go away'. I have complained to the council about the noise and at first the noise complaints people seemed helpful - they listened sympathetically, and sent me a 14-day noise diary to complete, I have completed this and sent it back.
“I have sent two emails since and have also phoned, to be placed on hold, telling me I was number one on the queue. After hearing this for 46 minutes, I gave up and I phoned back a week later to the same thing.
“On Saturday morning (May 6), a letter from National Rail where we are told that [the company] plans to work 24/7 from June 1 to 16. If Saturday nights were unacceptable, then this is doubly unacceptable. We are a suburban area - most folk must work during the day, so to have disturbed sleep is appalling.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We apologise for any disruption as we work to deliver a brand-new train station for this community. Unfortunately we do need to complete a proportion of the work at night, when trains aren’t running. This has included the need to break out the old station platform which has been a noisy process.
"We’re doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum and are working to keep residents informed, via letters and drop in sessions. We recently issued an update letter and have face to face drop in sessions coming up on the 10 and 15 May.
“We have an intensive period of 24/7 working in June, but this will reduce the overall construction programme by more than six months, cutting the length of time we’re impacting residents overall. “
Bristol City Council has been approached for a comment.
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