Cox's Walk footbridge - latest edited

[Guest]

See latest document from Southwark Council

Link edited and works now.

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/transport-and-roads/highways-defects-and-improvement-maintenance/bridges-subways-and-walls?chapter=3

[KidKruger]

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[johnie]

"In addition, building a new bridge further along the track and creating a new footpath from it would necessitate the removal of a significant number of trees. A new footbridge and the associated footpath would be well in excess of ?500,000."

Give me strength. Half a million? We are talking dog walkers and a 20-foot gap over 15 feet of bramble and mud. There isn't an active railway or road. It is merely a crossing from one footpath to another. I know I have the experience of decades, but I can now walk around trees rather than, as I did in my youth, walking straight into them, causing myself untold damage and stressing the NHS.

[pebs]

Yeah, agree this is BS. Half a million, come on!

[tiddles]

They need to get different contractors!!!

[legalalien]

Just checking I have this correct - the new bit is the ?update? at the end: in recognition of the fact that there is now a tree protection order in place for the two oak trees (thanks to the @SaveOaks campaign), there?s a revised refurb plan for the footbridge which allows the two trees to be retained but no info on cost of new plan, or how many other trees may need to be removed, and there?s a stakeholder meeting in May/ June to discuss - details tbc?

What I found most striking is that the Council were pretty adamant that the campaigners? alternative proposal involving screw piles was not feasible (despite their having got extensive specialist advice that it was possible)- and the new solution says that it involves screw piles! If you read this earlier (Sept 2020) Q and A document the campaigners had some detailed questions about council cost estimates so let?s hope the council have listened to what they have to say on that front as well. Perhaps they should appoint the guys at @SaveOaks to oversee the project and take a share of any savings they identify and make for the council!

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/assets/attach/24229/Response-to-Questions-rev-.docx

[intexasatthe moment]

"Perhaps they should appoint the guys at @SaveOaks to oversee the project and take a share of any savings they identify and make for the council!"

what an excellent idea !

[MiniViking]

Haven?t done this walk for ages. Could someone please confirm whether the Cox?s Walk closure means that it?s not possible to walk through the woods from the Wood House pub in Sydenham down to the old Plough pub on Lordship Lane? Thanks

[Sue]

MiniViking Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Haven?t done this walk for ages. Could someone

> please confirm whether the Cox?s Walk closure

> means that it?s not possible to walk through the

> woods from the Wood House pub in Sydenham down to

> the old Plough pub on Lordship Lane? Thanks

You can still do this. The part of the woods affected by the closure is on the right as you come into the woods from the Wood House direction.

But do you mean the Plough? Or the old Harvester? The entrance to the woods near Lordship Lane is opposite the old Harvester/Grove. The Plough is further down opposite the library.

If you don't walk to walk along main roads to get to it, you could go via the park.

[MiniViking]

Thanks Sue.

And, yes, I did mean the Grove/Harvester (not the Plough). Oops.

[KidKruger]

?The part of the woods affected by the closure is on the right as you come into the woods from the Wood House direction.?

Isn?t it on the right as you LEAVE the woods from the WH direction ?

(Or, on the left as you come into the woods from Cox?s Walk).

Unless they?ve moved the footbridge !! 🤣🤣🤔

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ?The part of the woods affected by the closure is

> on the right as you come into the woods from the

> Wood House direction.?

>

> Isn?t it on the right as you LEAVE the woods from

> the WH direction ?

> (Or, on the left as you come into the woods from

> Cox?s Walk).

> Unless they?ve moved the footbridge !!

> 🤣🤣🤔

I didn't mean immediately on the right, KK. I didn't mean just the footbridge, which yes is at the top of Cox's Walk.

According to the map at the entrance to Cox's Walk, that whole side of the woods which would have been reached by the footbridge is now fenced off 😭

So yes, it's the part of the woods on the right if you are coming from the Wood House.

I was in another part of the woods. I'm assuming the path which used to run from the far side of the footbridge (ie not the Cox's Walk end) is no longer usable in either direction.

Apologies if I'm wrong.

[alex_b]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> I didn't mean immediately on the right, KK. I

> didn't mean just the footbridge, which yes is at

> the top of Cox's Walk.

>

> According to the map at the entrance to Cox's

> Walk, that whole side of the woods which would

> have been reached by the footbridge is now fenced

> off 😭

>

> So yes, it's the part of the woods on the right if

> you are coming from the Wood House.

>

> I was in another part of the woods. I'm assuming

> the path which used to run from the far side of

> the footbridge (ie not the Cox's Walk end) is no

> longer usable in either direction.

>

> Apologies if I'm wrong.

Last time I ran that way you could still enter Cox?s Walk at the top on Sydenham Hill and there was a diversion path before the footbridge that took you along and down to cross the old railway line and head back to the other side of the footbridge. I don?t believe that?s closed off unless it?s a recent change.

[Sue]

Where does that diversion path come out at "this side" of the woods?

Does that mean that there is access to all of the woods on that far side even though the bridge is closed, via the diversion path?

[alex_b]

I went for a run today and everything other than the bridge itself it open.

To try to answer your question about where the diversion comes out: Coming down the steps from Sydenham hill there is a gate into the woods at the South-Eastern end of the footbridge. The main path runs parallel to Sydenham Woods and exits above the railway tunnel on Crescent Wood Road. There are two paths down to the North-West (Dulwich) side of the woods. A steep path drops down the side of the footbridge to join the path along the old rail bed, it?s then probably 100m to turn right and right again to get back to the other side of the footbridge. If you?re less mobile then there is a gentler path that branches off at the folly and gets you back to the main path through to Dulwich woods.

[ab29]

What is going on with Cox's Walk? Does anyone know? Rubbish sign posts scattered all over, gates open with everyone getting in, including quads, cyclists and motorbikes. Has the bridge work been done?

Edited June 9, 2024 by ab29

[first mate]

Sorry, I have to check, you don't mean quad bikes, motorbikes and cyclists are going into Dulwich/Sydenham Woods? I must have the wrong end of the stick...I hope.

[NewWave]

Walked past last night and it was most definately closed and signpoted to say so.

I do hope quad bikes and motorbikes are'nt getting in..that sounds scary.

I love the woods and find them a real sanctuary.

 

[Brian up the hill]

The bridge work is continuing. The brick abutments have to be removed, new concrete footing installed and the whole thing rebuilt. I imagine, this is before the superstructure of the bridge van be replaced. See photo attached. I doubt it will be finished before the autumn. As for quad bikes getting in, I can’t see how. The western entrance from Cox’s Walk is closed off completely, the eastern entrance is narrow and accessed by steps and a steep hill and it would be impossible to get in via the Crescent Wood Rd gate. Where do these ideas come from?!