Right to privacy?

Postman_Trev

We have been living near a ramp bridge (30mtrs) that goes up and over the railwayline in our town. This is due to be demolished and replaced with a new super highway bridge that is twice as wide as the current bridge and the proposed design of the bridge will mean that our once very private rear garden will be overlooked by this massive structure. I have already been in touch with the design team to express my anger that such a design is even contemplated but my views are not being taken seriously and the design is not being changed. What can I do to oppose this with my council who are 100% onboard for this bridge.

MattMattMattUK

Postman_Trev said:

We have been living near a ramp bridge (30mtrs) that goes up and over the railwayline in our town. This is due to be demolished and replaced with a new super highway bridge that is twice as wide as the current bridge and the proposed design of the bridge will mean that our once very private rear garden will be overlooked by this massive structure. I have already been in touch with the design team to express my anger that such a design is even contemplated but my views are not being taken seriously and the design is not being changed. What can I do to oppose this with my council who are 100% onboard for this bridge.

Very little, as they will not be spending millions, potentially ten of millions on a whim, it will be a carefully considered decision about important infrastructure. 

If you have any genuine concerns about privacy, eg. people standing on the bridge starting into your garden for unknown reasons, then you could object to parts of the design, that might be that they should apply screening to the edge so that people cannot see into your garden, which is something that they will likely consider, but realistically there is zero chance that they will not build the bridge because you object to it, so you need to pick your battles. 

WIAWSNB

How large a tree would you require to provide dappled screening?

Bigphil1474

A lot of over rail bridges have high sides or screened sides to stop numpties throwing stuff at trains etc. - have you checked the design? As above , unlikely to stop it being built but if you can encourage them to design it with safety in mind? Maybe suggest pedestrians on the other side only.

MysteryMe

I'd be very surprised if this new bridge had sides so low people could casually look over to your garden, as bigphil says check the design plans.  It could well blight your view from your garden but unfortunately there is nothing you can do other than try and lesson it from within your garden, possibly by plants/trees. 

twopenny

Ah but you can go for the safety angle. People move sharpish when there may be repercussions.
People throwing things could be a possibility, think around that sort of thing.
They will be more inclined to react to anything that will impact on them than someone's garden privacy.

But new roads that have been built higher than houses in my local towns have high sides that you can't see over or climb over.
Not pretty but effective.

casper_gutman

As others have said you'll be more likely to succeed in getting screening/fencing along the bridge than in stopping the whole thing.

Are there overhead power lines on the railway? If so, there are safety rules which will likely require high barriers on the bridge, at least above the railway itself. Lots of bridges around here have had their sides raised as the line has recently been electrified. Even if the line near you isn't presently electrified you could argue for future-proofing against a future upgrade?

If the plans have lower sides on the approaches and that's the part from which your garden will be overlooked then maybe you'll get somewhere arguing about the risk of items being dropped/thrown as well as overlooking.

Besides all that, I'd be thinking about how to create a private area in the garden that isn't overlooked. Perhaps a covered seating area under a pergola or gazebo, opening away from the bridge? Even if you don't actually do anything now, hopefully just making plans will help you to feel more in control of a situation which could otherwise get you down.