Halfpenny Bridge to Close

3.24.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Dec 2007

Cllrs Sharon Ball and Lynda Hedges are concerned at the amount of inconvience that will be caused by closing the bridge

Westmoreland Liberal Democrat Councillors Sharon Ball and Lynda Hedges are concerned about the expected closure of the footbridge that runs between Fieldings Road and Locksbrook Road.

They have recently received confirmation that the bridge will be closed from January for extensive repairs which are expected to take several months to complete.

Residents had hoped a new bridge might be installed, rather than the old one being repaired, but were told that the cost of a new bridge would be far higher than even extensive repairs. Councillor Sharon Ball has been making inquiries as to why this should be and has been told, unofficially, that the main expense would be moving a gas main that runs under the bridge.

Councillor Ball said, "We have asked for the exact cost of moving this pipe and will let residents know if this is why the cost of the proposed replacement bridge doubled in price in a short period of time.

"It is a shame as that we are only getting a repair, as a new bridge would have had its own cycle lane and would have been able to take its place in the National Cycle network."

"It is clear that residents will be inconvenienced by the amount of time that the bridge will be closed," commented Cllr Lynda Hedges. "We have managed to get the Council to agree to installing new lighting on an alternative route, via the rear of the Bus depot. This lighting should make the alternative route safer to use at night and early in the morning."