Letter: We Are Confident Our Work Is Not Affecting St Catherine’s Spring

Published on: 29 Jun, 2020
Updated on: 29 Jun, 2020

St Catherine’s Spring

From Network Rail

In response to: Is Railway Work Affecting St Catherine’s Spring?

We’re writing in response to the letter from Alex Clifford, which concerned St Catherine’s spring and our work at the tunnel of the same name.

We are confident our works are not affecting any of the local watercourses.

A geotechnical assessment has been undertaken which indicates the risk of contamination from our activities as extremely low. As soon as we received communication from Mr Clifford we rechecked our work, where there were no issues identified and the water was also running clear.

We think the reason for its appearance was as a result of recent heavy rainfall causing sandy runoff from the surrounding area. However, we are not complacent and we will continue to carefully monitor our worksite and the stream.

Responses to Letter: We Are Confident Our Work Is Not Affecting St Catherine’s Spring

Alex Clifford Reply

June 29, 2020 at 10:33 pm

It is good that Network Rail will be monitoring the stream. I am interested to know if any other local residents have ever seen the stream run yellow after rain.
- Stuart Barnes Reply
  
  June 30, 2020 at 11:15 am
  
  I confirm that there are signs that the streams may be contaminated with something causing a reddish colour. As far as I can tell the colour is there when there is no rain but clears when there is rain. That seems to be the opposite of the reason given above.
  
  It does seem possible that sand from the hill may be getting into the water flow.
Stuart Barnes Reply

July 1, 2020 at 2:43 pm

I have rechecked today and the red/sand colour has returned and stays in slow running water areas. As I said above it clears after heavy rain but then creeps back through the streams. I am not sure whether it is poisonous to fish and other wild life but I think that it could be.

Network Rail need to reconsider whether they are responsible.