HOUSEHOLDERS living near a stretch of railway line in Bromborough have raised concerns over safety after a line of trees was replaced with 'inadequate' fencing around a 40ft drop.

Saplings at the bottom of Bowfell Close were chopped down by engineers working for Network Rail two months ago, so a small railing could be installed above a bridge at the end of a culvert.

But residents complained that it exposed a patch of land which led to a 40-foot drop into a steam, so additional railings were installed.

Wirral Globe:

Ray Lunt and Paul Williams near the railing at edge of culvert

The work has been described as inadequate, with readers telling the Globe that there are still gaps which children could get and through and fall into the gulley.

Paul Williams, 74, a retired countryside ranger, said: "You can't put a price on anybody's life.

"A car could come into the road, lose control and drive through the fence and into the drop.

"It's an inadequate and extremely dangerous railing. Surely, Network Rail has a duty of care to try to ensure there are no accidents.

"Little children play around here and some go over to look through the fence.

"My worry is that there could be a very serious accident before too long."

Wirral Globe:

Looking into the culvert over railing

His concerns are echoed by Ray Lunt, a former council officer who inspected newly-created playgrounds for the authority until retiring more than 10 years ago.

He told the Globe: "I didn't even know the land belonged to Network Rail.

"It would have cost thousands of pounds to cut down the trees and replace with the fences. What a waste of money, because it’s still dangerous.

"Something needs to be done soon, before there’s a serious accident or worse.

"I've got grandchildren, the youngest is five, and they go and have look over the fence at the water.

"It's only a matter of time before something serious happens."

Wirral Globe:

Looking into the culvert over railing

Mr Lunt, who retired 15 years ago, continued: "I used to inspect playgrounds for the council and safety was always a concern.

"If something was unsafe, you couldn’t get around it. You have to sort it out."

Liberal Democrat ward councillor Chris Carubia told the Globe: "One of the issues is that Network Rail seems to have come along, cut down the trees and left this wide open space, only coming back and putting the other railing up because residents complained it was unsafe.

Wirral Globe:

The railing at corner of Bowfell Close in Bromborough

"The neighbours are concerned that it’s a really good accident blackspot. It’s also a place that’s popular with kids, who visit on bikes.

"I don't really understand why the trees were cut down in the first place, because they were a natural barrier.

"It seemed like a pointless thing to do.”

The Globe has contacted Network Rail for a statement.