Supporting local scouts: Giving back to the community following our emergency landslip repair

Our rail team has been giving back to the local community near our landslip repair work on Gatwick’s main line.

Earlier this year, we successfully completed emergency landslip repairs 45 hours ahead of schedule, on behalf of Network Rail. These urgent repairs were necessary after a landslip occurred between Three Bridges, West Sussex and Gatwick, blocking one of the four main line tracks and disrupting passengers’ journeys.

To deliver the repair efficiently and safely, three work crews operated around the clock. We collaborated closely with our aviation team at Gatwick, using their site lighting and tools for a quick response.

This work was part of Network Rail’s new Control Period 7 (CP7) Framework. By working with our client, we ensured a quick resolution to the landslip, letting passenger services resume sooner than anticipated.

Our team was eager to give back to the local community. Due to the site’s location, we needed offsite parking, and a local scout group generously offered their car park. In return, we resurfaced areas that had drainage issues. We also held a session with the scouts on how to build bird boxes while providing them with an opportunity to learn more about railway construction, and what we do to protect the environment, even during emergency works.

During our works, we used access routes through a local allotment. We worked closely with the Allotment Officer from Crawley Borough Council to manage our impact on the allotment users and leave a lasting positive impact on the allotments following completion. This included creating three additional allotment plots, installing new long-lasting fencing and gates, where we necessarily removed previous fencing for an access route, supporting allotment users with tidying and rotavating plots and donating new raised beds.

Our work location was immediately next door to Serenity School. We maintained contact with the school throughout the project to manage our impact to the school’s normal operations, focusing on access and parking.

Following completion, we identified an opportunity to improve the playground facilities. Working with the Head of Primary and Nurture, we created a list of what sensory play equipment the pupils would benefit from. This included outdoor colourful tiles, tactile calming cushions and playground musical chimes. Working with our supply chain for the project, we were able to donate every item on the school’s wish list.

To reduce waste from site and further give back, we donated stock fencing to Kilmarnock Horse and Donkey Rescue.

Steve Paice, Social Value Manager at M Group Rail & Aviation, said: “Our commitment to the community goes beyond our projects. We’re working to create a positive impression in the communities where we work, supporting local initiatives and creating long-lasting connections.

“Our team had a great time, working together with the allotment tenants, and we hope the scouts enjoyed gaining an insight into what we do on the track to make sure their train journeys run smoothly.”