The bridge over the North Circular near New Southgate Station is blighted by pigeon poo and a mysterious substance containing E-coli, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The North Circular beneath the bridge and (insets) some of the health hazards pedestrians encounter

Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) are being urged to clean up a railway bridge said to be creating a “health hazard” for residents.

The bridge over the North Circular Road, carrying the East Coast Main Line just south of New Southgate Station, has been under investigation since a mysterious orange substance was spotted leaking from its weep holes and on to the pavement.

Alongside this, poo from pigeons nesting in the bridge’s rafters has been falling on to the road and pavement. Local residents say the substances mix with rainwater on wet days and the effect is “absolutely disgusting”.

Despite the presence of drains, along the side of the pavement, residents have said these get “full” and the stretch of road ends up being “not nice”.

The railway bridge is on the border of three North London boroughs – Haringey, Barnet and Enfield. It is the responsibility of Network Rail, while TfL maintains the A406 North Circular which passes underneath.

The route is often used by locals to access Friern Bridge Retail Park.

Alessandra Rossetti, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Alexandra Park ward in Haringey, said she’d begun making enquiries about the issues as far back as 2023.

Cllr Rossetti said: “It is shocking to me that years of neglect and a failure to take responsibility by multiple organisations have transformed a simple case of disrepair into a health hazard for residents.

“It isn’t right that people in the area are having to suffer the consequences of this neglect. However, the chance to improve things for local people is still there.

“It is time for all stakeholders to stop shifting responsibility, pull together to address pigeons roosting, stop the leak, work on piping the drains and ensure proper maintenance of the footpath. Now is the time to take action.”

Cllr Rossetti has asked Network Rail about the orange substance and in May 2024 it was confirmed to contain coliform and E.coli, but the reason for the colour has not been confirmed.

In response to the concerns over safety, Network Rail at the time said this was a “very common bacteria” that was “widely distributed”.

Hazel Stokes, a local resident, said she walked this route a couple of times a week to shop at the retail park, along with mums with prams, cyclists, and pedestrians who were all “affected”.

Hazel said: “You’re walking in pigeon poo, and everything that’s thrown up from the road, it’s absolutely disgusting, and it’s been this way for years.”

Barbara Waller, another local resident, said she’d contacted Network Rail years ago to tell them it was “dangerous” and “horrible for people walking along there”.

She explained her two adult daughters walked along the route to visit shops but had to “take their shoes off and wash their trolleys before they can come back into the house, it’s absolutely disgusting”.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns about pigeons and drainage beneath the bridge near Friern Bridge Retail Park.

“We are continuing to monitor and assess the level of risk, with our most recent analysis showing that there is no current significant safety risk that requires immediate attention. We are regularly reviewing options for preventative measures if the situation changes.

“Our teams are working proactively on the drainage issue and are working with Transport for London to allow work to be carried out, and we will issue an update in due course.”

TfL has promised to carry out additional cleaning due to the issues.

Andrew Wiseall, TfL’s head of asset operations, said: “We work closely with councils across London to ensure that the capital’s red routes are safe and well-maintained.

“We are working to tackle the issues caused by pigeons at this location, which includes plans to improve drainage. Work on this is planned to start in the next six weeks and will make our monthly cleaning of the site more effective.”

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