I went through the foot tunnel at approx 1pm. Two blokes and one water power jet. Cable for jet along the floor of the tunnel and up the steps at the south circ end. Large generator at top of steps. The only barrier was of the chevron-striped plastic tape variety, tied between a couple of striped plastic bollards. I noted neither bloke had on any form of breathing apparatus or dust mask etc, just plastic coated, generic work overalls. They politely stop spraying as I walked past and laughed (diplomatically, as it wasn't that funny....) when I said "good riddance to that" and gestured at the wall "art". The floor, and more significantly from a H&S viewpoint the steps at the south circ end of the tunnel, were by that time already covered in soggy, paint flakes. It struck me that physically less able or older people than me may have found the walking surface distinctly treacherous. So, yes, to the eventual start to these works; but no, to the manner by which they are to date being executed.

Sorry, I rather get soaked and watch my way than that the subway is closed, who cares if there are paint flakes on the floor, who really cares if they wear a dust mask? I certainly dont, the only thing i would say watch where you are going - couldnt care less about the rest as long it is finally done

Agreed! People should stop being such busy bodies and just let them get on with it and get it done asap..really do not need anymore hold ups

This post was last modified: 07-11-2012 09:52 AM by poolsneighbour.

Agree with the last couple of posts. The subway has been a priority for the area to sort out for years. Once work finally gets underway, then we have posts about Lead based paint and health and safety

lol dont think im taking sides here. I was merely showing what was happening at the time I passed through there.
I too am happy for it to remain open for as long as its safe to use.
Some will be happy to know that there is now sheeting up which contains most of the flying debris.

Looks like a long job ahead of them, and I look forwards to a new look.

I'm not a health and safety freak, but am obviously interested that its done safely. Im sure it will be

This post was last modified: 07-11-2012 01:07 PM by Snazy.

lol, I DO actually blame the whole debate on your picture Snazy

A little unfair stefan - the rest of us were just lurking waiting for someone to jump into the trap .

Let's face it - of course the work is welcome - it is long overdue - but done safely and without harming anyone.

Maybe a certain fellow poster may want to read my last sentence again - once he's had a brief lie down to recompose himself - I endorse the start of the works !

lol @ Stefan, I can take it, I'm made of strong stuff.

jgdoherty, I see no work was happening today, have you scared them off with threats of H&S lol.

Lewisham instructed the contractor that the high pressure jetting operation must not continue whilst there was no containment measures in place and public could walk through the airborne pollution and the debris.

The subway was reportedly closed at 9:30 and it was planned to be re-opened today at 15:30 in mitigation of the absence of proper measures. I suspect in fact it was not closed and no work was carried out.

This is inexplicable.

Can it be the case that the contractor has found further deficiencies in their proposed method of work - starting with the fact that their operatives had no effective PPE or breathing kit ?

Only LB Lewisham and HSE can determine if the earlier actions are deemed to be reportable incidents under RIDDOR.

From a common sense perspective and given the nature of the cladding design - why was the paint stripping work deemed necessary - fixings could be made to the existing structure of the subway with the paint left undisturbed.

Most reasonable people would conclude that they would not choose to expose their children or their elderly relatives to any form of contaminants never mind the potentially toxic mix of high pressure mist mixed with any number harmful materials in particle form. I know I have recommended to a number of people not to pass through the subway especially with children if jetting is under way and there is no containment measures in place.

As I said earlier, of course progress is welcome. Without apology it must be done safely and without harming anyone - and certainly not with the cavalier approach that has emerged in the last 3 days or so.

Seriously cannot BELIEVE that work has had to be halted because of this rubbish

It's annoying if the work has to be stopped, but if they are doing it wrong, then it should be stopped. If they are getting the basics wrong, what's to say the rest of the job won't be shoddy? A few days delay to get it right, and let the contractors know that cutting corners will not be accepted, will benefit us all in the long run.

I suspect the cladding will only be for the section under the rails.
The rest will just be whitewashed.

Getting rid of that appalling graffiti art certainly will be progress, but presumably it was only commissioned in the first place to cover up a stained, damp and ugly whitewashed wall.

OMG what have I started. I shall never post a picture again

Seriously though, if they have stopped the works, then clearly they felt that something was going wrong. Regardless of the complaint, if it wasnt founded then they would have continued.

I am somewhat confused by the stripping of the tiles, there is no chance that they are usable for the final finish, so surely strip it all in one go?

Fingers crossed they can re-start with a good plan on Monday.

well, fill in the subway and lets build a cable car!

I rather foolishly expected forest hill station to have had the decency to open the footbridge while the underpass is shut, but they've refused. This included a 90 year old lady who was made to walk the long way around. We actually passed a lady on crutches coming the other way.
The usual rudeness by station staff ensued when I suggested the kindness it would demonstrate if they alowed the public access to the bridge.
I'm making a complaint as im disgusted by the stations attitude
The closed underpass is also going to cost businesses on Dartmouth road

Presumably anybody with a freedom pass (over 60 years old) or a season ticket can enter and exit the station for free, using the footbridge to cross the tracks.

I can imagine it may be difficult for members of staff on one side of the track to let somebody onto one platform, without the possibility that a colleague on the other side will try to prosecute for fair evasion.

The work on the underpass is in the long term interests of all pedestrians and businesses in Forest Hill, but it inevitably causes some disruption while the work continues.

'difficult' for the staff? Are you having a laugh! It'd give some of them something to do. The goodwill towards the community by allowing people to use the bridge surely outweighs the 'difficulty' for staff? They are paid.
As to fare evasion. It's pretty much impossible now, and evaders can be picked up at the other end.
I've written to the mp, network rail, and others.
It's a bloody disgrace of the station to be SO deliberately obtuse and unkind to the people of forest hill.

Personally I agree with Michael. Somehow controlling the flow of fare paying passengers, and people just passing through would be a nightmare, and impossible to police. Just opening up the barriers and letting anyone pass through the station for the next few months would be a nightmare, and not a responsibility that should be laid at the feet of the current station staff.

Im sure if you have a reasonable suggestion of how people just passing through the station could be managed, maybe the station etc could consider it.
If the bridge was like the one at Penge East, and not within the confines of the station I would say it would be acceptable and expected.

I completely agree that it would be lovely if the railway company (LOROL) were willing to allow people to enter and exit the station for free, possible with the free issuing of a platform ticket from the machine (generally platform tickets cost money - I think about 10p). But without such a policy in place, and I'm not aware of staff radios to communicate across the tracks, the staff member would need to leave their position and accompany the non-passenger across the station, leaving the ticket barrier unmanned for passengers or other people wishing to be accompanied across the railway.

Given the job of the staff is to man the ticket barriers to make sure people can get through, I don't think we should be too harsh on them for not abandoning their posts. What you need is for LOROL to change their procedures to allow passenger to cross over. Contact details for LOROL can be found at http://www.lorol.co.uk/contact-us.html

But perhaps I still misunderstand the Freedom passes as I thought these were automatically given to everybody over 60, and would have enabled a 90 year old lady to cross the railway without any problem and without paying for the platform ticket.