East Grinstead Station
Project Information
Client:
Thompson Rail
Project:
East Grinstead Station
Overview
We were commissioned to remove a hazardous Poplar tree located at the rear of a station car park. The tree had deteriorated to the point where it posed a significant safety risk to the public, nearby infrastructure and the surrounding footpaths. Due to its unstable condition, traditional arborist climbing methods were not viable. Our team was tasked with developing a safe, innovative and logistically sound approach to dismantle and remove the tree without compromising public safety or disrupting the station’s operations.
Challenges
This project presented several unique and complex challenges:
Unsafe Tree Structure: The Poplar was too unstable for an arborist to climb, eliminating standard dismantling techniques.
Restricted Access: A weight limit on the raised car park prevented the use of a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) from the upper level.
Confined Working Area: The lower car park offered limited space, requiring precise planning to position machinery safely.
Public Environment: The site bordered active footpaths and a busy station area, demanding strict safety controls and minimal disruption.
Solution
To overcome these constraints, we engineered a bespoke removal strategy in collaboration with specialist machine rental partners:
Crane-Assisted Access: A 150 tonne crane was deployed to lift a 30 tonne MEWP into the lower car park, providing safe access for the arborists without breaching weight restrictions.
Controlled Dismantling: The crane was then used to lift and extract sections of the tree as they were cut, ensuring stability throughout the process.
Efficient Waste Handling: Timber was lowered directly into waiting skip bins for responsible recycling, keeping the site organised and reducing manual handling.
Safety-First Execution: All work was carried out under strict safety protocols, with pedestrian routes protected and station operations unaffected.
The operation was completed smoothly and safely. The hazardous Poplar was fully removed, and both the car park and surrounding footpaths are now secure for public use.
