Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 21 July (HL9261), what plans they have to impose a ban on all tree and shrubbery clearance work by Network Rail from March to August inclusive to avoid disturbing songbirds during nesting season.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government has no plans to impose a ban on tree and shrubbery clearance work by Network Rail. As stated in the previous answer (HL9261), Network Rail has processes in place for managing tree removal around nesting season. Network Rail has committed to increase biodiversity across the rail estate by 2035 but ultimately must prioritise the safe and efficient operation of the railway. Vegetation with suspected or identified nesting birds would only be removed if safety concerns were significant and following consultation with ecologists, lawyers and the British Transport Police.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to his Written Answer on 1 July (HL8639), why it was not possible for the fence mounted onto the existing bi-steel barriers to match the design of that around Cromwell Green, divided into barrier-length sections as necessary, given that any fence mounted onto the barriers is inherently removeable.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The chosen design option was endorsed on the balance of all considerations, including security, heritage, deliverability, and value for money. It was also a factor that the permission for the ‘siting of a boundary fence’ is temporary and was granted for ten years.
The Abingdon Street Fence has a height, pale dimensions, and pale spacing consistent with other Fences elsewhere on the Parliamentary Estate.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking against those responsible for Network Rail mistakenly cutting down 300 trees in Derbyshire.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government is not taking action against Network Rail for trees removed on the Midland Main Line between Wingfield and Clay Cross. All the vegetation managed in this area was to ensure the safe operation of trains on the track. Any trees within 6.5m of the line and any capable of falling within 4m of the track were either removed or reduced in size. Dead, dying and diseased trees (some with the fungal infection Ash Dieback), as well as healthy trees which were obstructing the view of train conductors and drivers, were cut back or managed due to the risk they posed to the safe operation of the railway. This was done in line with Network Rail’s tree risk assessment model.