A plea has been made to get a 'disgusting and dilapidated' railway bridge in Reading painted and cleaned up.
The railway bridge carries trains over Oxford Road and provides access to Reading West station.
The state of the bridge has been described as 'disgusting' due to it being a nesting place for pigeons.
A neighbour called for the bridge to be cleaned and restored at a Reading Borough Council meeting last month.
Vicky Barker said: "The railway bridge at Reading West is unsightly, disgusting and dilapidated.
"I understand that the fabric of the bridge is the responsibility of Great Western Railway (GWR) and why weren't GWR obliged to refurbish the bridge when the scaffolding was up around the station building?
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"The station side is generally quite neatly kept. However, the northern
side of the road is filthy and rat-ridden, with a largely unused phone box covered in pigeon droppings, and rubbish blowing everywhere.
"The area gives a clear message to those approaching from the town: 'You Are Now Entering an Unloved and Unregarded Part of Reading.'
"What can be done to improve this depressing area, and when?"
Ultimately, any work to the bridge would have to be undertaken by its Network Rail, which has responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the bridge.
Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) lead councillor for environmental services said: "Unfortunately, the council does not have the power to oblige Network Rail to undertake works on the bridge, and we have been advised only a year ago that the bridge painting does not meet their priorities for structural maintenance.
"However, we fully agree that it is unsightly and therefore we regularly raise this as an issue."
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While designs for the bridge have been devised through the High Street
Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, an improvement project has so far been rebuffed.
Cllr Rowland added that it was 'frustrating' that a 'ready-baked' scheme to beautify the bridge has been devised, but can only go ahead if Network Rail closes the railway line for the project.
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On the cleanliness of the surrounding area, she said: "We are also very aware of the unsightly environmental issues, particularly to the north
of the station on the Oxford Road.
"Complicating issues is the most unwelcome bird feeding which contributes significantly to the problem, despite all attempts at intervention.
"Street cleansing occurs along this stretch of Oxford Road on a daily
basis through manual sweeping Monday to Friday and mechanical sweeping over the weekend, with all litter bins being emptied daily.
"However, having examined the situation again, Streetscene will be adjusting the cleansing schedule to allow for more time to enhance the daily cleansing in this area which will be supported by a fortnightly power wash of the footpath."
The answer was given at a housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee on March 11.
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