Two ‘unsafe’ vestiges of a former railway are to be demolished after being deemed to “pose a safety hazard” to the public.

The former bridge abutments for the former Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway in Collingbourne Ducis are to be removed after reports they are deteriorating and at risk of collapsing into a bridleway running under the former line.

Georgina Wright, a planning officer for Wiltshire Council, recommended that the brick structures could be removed under permitted development rights without prior approval.

The Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway opened in 1882, and joined the West of England Line at Andover Station (then known as Andover Junction). The line was used primarily for military transport and goods from Southampton, but declined following the Second World War and was closed to passengers in 1961.

The line was lifted shortly afterwards, with the station at Collingbourne Ducis being demolished around the same time. While the bridge itself was removed, the abutments were left in place as part of the structure holding up the grassed banks on either side of the bridleway from the village.

They have now fallen into a poor state of repair, with Georgina Wright saying: “The abutments are deteriorating and pose a safety hazard for users of the public right of way.

“During a recent site visit the deterioration was witnessed and brick and mortar debris exists on the ground in the vicinity of the two features.”

As a result, Hammond (ECS) Limited, a railway infrastructure firm, had applied to the council to see whether they could be removed without full planning permission. They planned to demolish the abutments, and then reshape the embankment and replace topsoil to match the adjacent banks’ levels and falls.

The remoulded bank is then to be seeded with grass and a three rail fence is to be installed on top of it.

With the council confirming work can take place, work to demolish these structures is intended between July 26 and August 13.