The Historical Railways Estate of 3,100 legacy bridges, viaducts and tunnels has the potential to play a positive role in a greener future. But these assets are under threat from National Highways, the Government-owned roads company responsible for their management. Over the past nine years, dozens of viable structures have been infilled or demolished without their heritage, ecology or transport value being fully appraised.

In carrying out several schemes, National Highways has relied upon permitted development rights which - unlike planning applications - avoid public consultation. Some of these rights are intended only for immediate, temporary interventions in emergency situations and, by default, only last for 12 months.

We are currently seeking £2,500 for legal help in support of our objections to infill schemes where permitted development rights have been breached and the works are currently unauthorised. In two cases, the local planning authorities have already asked National Highways for retrospective planning applications.

St Andrew's Lane bridge near King's Lynn, Norfolk was a rare surviving example of an early modular concrete structure from 1926 (pictured) and spanned a dismantled railway which is now the focus of a greenway proposal. Rudgate bridge near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire comprised a masonry arch dating from 1846 and was infilled without any engineering justification. Together, these schemes burdened the taxpayer with a £260K bill; repairs would have cost a fraction of that and avoided the environmental impacts of transporting and placing hundreds of tonnes of stone and concrete in a rural landscape.

We would really welcome your support in challenging these schemes. Even if you cannot contribute financially, you can still make a difference by sharing this page with your family, friends and colleagues.

These historic feats should not be put beyond use when they have important heritage value and could yet deliver social and economic benefits. Please help us to safeguard our nation’s great railway legacy.

Many thanks.