The Coal Line (an elevated green finger above Peckham town centre)

[TheCoalLine]

Dear East Dulwich Residents,

If you are interested in Peckham Rye please join our community initiated proposal to bring the disused high-level Ricketts Coal line back into use as a park: http://peckhamcoalline.strikingly.com

With your help this resident initiated park would create an elevated green finger above Peckham town centre acting as an oasis that would negotiates its way through contemporary chaos and industrial past to reconnect communities at Rye Lane & Queens Road.

This highline also has wider network potential; by linking two parts of the national cycle network it would be possible to create an almost continuous green route stretching from Brixton to Rotherhithe with the future potential to reach Canary Wharf.

This idea was only launched a couple of days ago so it is at the very early stages. Please visit the website, join the Facebook group and spread the word. If you or anyone else you know might want to get involved please let me know.

The council are aware of the idea but we need to gather more public support before we approach network rail who will decide whether this is viable on their property.

Thank you in advance for your support.

The Peckham Coal Line

http://peckhamcoalline.strikingly.com

https://www.facebook.com/peckhamcoalline?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

http://i59.tinypic.com/2ciw3r.jpg

http://i58.tinypic.com/1zd6nhd.jpg

[Earl Aelfheah]

Wow. Looks amazing.

[HollyGrove]

A brilliant and timely idea, it could tie in well with the project for the station at Peckham Rye. Please keep us informed on how to get involved/support. I am sure it will be very popular with all in South London.

[edcam]

What a great idea!

[kiera]

CoalLine - A very attractive idea, but before I support it, I'd like to know the effect on the scaffolding firm, which has been there for at least 30 years. Could you please say

whether you would expect them to move out and whether you have obtained their views. Thanks.

[TheCoalLine]

Yes good question. The line goes above the scaffolding yard and is not part of the area used by D+R so the idea is to leave the business unaffected. However the path would need to use the top-half of the last one (or preferably two) high arches before the bridge where the rail lines cross so we'd like to work with the owners about how this might be possible and what opportunities there are for integrating some scaffolding into the design of this elevated deck section; the area under the deck could continue to be used for storing scaffolding as it is currently. We are definitely be keen to talk to them about the idea and I will contact them in the near future.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Might want to rethink 'an elevated green finger' as tag line though.

[clockworkorange]

Brilliant.

[kiera]

CoalLine, thank you for your informative and reassuring reply.

[Applespider]

Looks amazing. Please let us know about any public meetings or help that you might need. I'm not on Facebook so hope you update here with news too.

[intexasatthe moment]

Wow . And another not on Facebook ( work of the devil IMO ) and grateful for updates here .

[Medley]

Looks like a great idea.

And an excellent response re scaffolding.

[jimbo1964]

Looks like a great plan.

[northlondoner]

Looks great!

[egoode]

That looks like a fantastic idea.

[strae]

Makes me think immediately of the High Line in NYC...

What a great idea - all the best and please keep us posted on how we can help!

[Medley]

Yes, Peckham's high line basically.

I'd like to know more detail about the cycle paths - what might be on the coal line itself, and how that links to existing paths to make this potential Brixton-C Wharf route that's talked about.

[antantant]

What a brilliant idea! Please let us know how we can support it as the idea develops.

[Jeremy]

Am I the only one who can't figure out where this coal line is?

[edhistory]

.

[Jeremy]

Is it directly adjacent to the working railway line between the two Peckham stations? I know I may sound thick, but from google satellite view it's not at all obvious where this disused high level line is!

[edhistory]

Between Rye Lane and Cow Lane bridge.

[MrBen]

The high line in NYC is great and full of bearded strollers and barefoot joggers.

[Jeremy]

Can somebody who doesn't communicate in riddles actually describe to me where the coal line is?

[edhistory]

The first post in this thread has a location map.

The 1953 photograph is taken from Cow Lane bridge looking towards Rye Lane.