To set the scene, Mortlake is a small district of Richmond borough, a village like setting. The parks are narrowing, the main roads widening like an infectious disease…

Over development and over crowding is an increasing issue over all stretches of London. Each day the residents of Mortlake come to face this hectic and stressful rail crossing as a daily mission.

Network Rail have recently classified this crossing to be ‘2’ of a scale with ‘1’ being high, out of a potential rating of ‘13’, being the lowest. Such analysis provides and alarming response across the community, which really hits home to the severity of this case.

It has come to call and question on the dangerous congestion caused by the 349 trains that pass through this suburban railway station. Occupied by pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, the footbridge can only ‘hold fort’ so much from the increasing pressures of an expanding central London.

Organizations, such as ‘Love Mortlake’, have this rail crossing as the subject of much debate and dispute over the safety of those that utilise it. ‘Love Mortlake’ is battling for the preservation of life as we know it, highlighting the damage that could come as a result of over development.

Following the impacting progressions of the late 'South Western Rail', the main occupants of this engulfed segment of the railway are left to the background of complaints and concerns, in this race against time before change is forced into the hands of fate. A lack of consideration for the residents and the qualities of Mortlake, is reinforced by the further introduction of the swarms of developers and invasive developments planned for such a small and currently highly congested area in the outskirts of London.

Having experienced the torment and stress of the Sheen Lane level crossing, it is disheartening to see this become a downfall and a source of division of such a communal area over the extent of my lifetime.

But has it ever truly been addressed? What will it take for effective imperative changes to be made?