On Friday 10th April it was reported in the Guardian that Network Rail had sealed up Swift nests as part of their 7.5 million Chapel Milton twin Victorian viaduct renewal programme. Locals noticed the tiny holes were blocked as swifts were due to return. This at a time when Swift numbers are plummeting, they’re on the UK’s Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. According to the RSPB, for every ten Swifts in our skies in 1995, there were only about three by 2022.

On 11th April Jenny emailed Lord Hendy but it was the wrong Lord Hendy 🙂 Luckily Lord Hendy QC immediately forwarded the email to the right Lord Hendy – Peter Hendy the Lord’s Rail Minister. Peter replied and put Jenny in touch with the right people in Network Rail. Network Rail got back on the 13th and said they couldn’t unblock the holes because it would make the structure unsafe, but they were going to put up bird boxes. Happily local campaigners, knowing where the Swifts nest and where the structural work was done, were able to dismiss the structural stability claim. There then followed almost two weeks of emails – why just putting up bird boxes wasn’t good enough, did Network Rail need permission from High Peak Council to unblock the holes, had they applied for permission, would the Council give permission? Zac got involved pointing out how tiny the holes in question are.

On Friday High Peak Borough Council confirmed that listed building consent was not required to open the three holes and on the same day Network Rail unblocked the holes. 

This is a triumph for local knowledge and good sense. Much thanks owing to local campaigners and writer and campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor, plus The Rail minister and those at Network Rail and High Peaks Council who were quick to respond to the urgency of the situation.