MORE disgruntled residents have criticised new fencing, installed by Network Rail outside their homes, for making them feel like 'prisoners'.

The Advertiser featured Blackwell residents' plight earlier this month, in response to new railings erected along the district's train tracks, which has prompted fellow neighbours to speak out.

Christopher Kent, 64, of Laurel Bank Mews in Blackwell, said: "Network Rail has put up this shiny metal spiked fence, without any consultation with residents, which basically runs right across the back of nine houses on our road.

"We're right at the top of the Lickey incline so we had a lovely view. Now when we look out all you can see is a 6ft galvanised fence.

"I was a police officer for years so I know what prisons look like, and it is like living in a prison.

"At least if it was a mesh we could see through it."

The fences are part of electrification works to the line, which Network Rail insists were designed with the local environment and residential properties in mind.

A spokesman said: "We are working with residents in the area who are unhappy with the fencing which has been installed. A letter was sent to all residents who would have new fencing prior to the work with information on how to contact us if they wanted to discuss the fencing further.

“As part of this upgrade and extension of the electric train service from Birmingham, the project has to assess any change in risk profile that the installation of the new overhead line equipment would bring to our lineside neighbours. This meant that in some situations, we were required to upgrade our boundary fences.

“Due to the immediate proximity of the properties you have mentioned to the railway, they were identified as ‘high risk’. In such areas we are obliged to install a more robust fence to secure our boundary and also provide suitable protection to avoid people coming into contact with the live electrical wires. Steel palisade fencing is usually adopted in these cases and provides the best possible form of security."

They added: "In this particular situation, we erected an alternative style of fence that still meets our high security standards, but affords a slightly less obtrusive solution. Many of the residents we are working with have this less obtrusive fencing.

“We will continue to work with local residents to find a respectful balance between our neighbours’ aesthetic expectations, while maintaining the focus on keeping them safe and ensuring a safe and efficient railway.”