Rundown Carlisle footbridge to be replaced at last
Last updated at 11:51, Monday, 23 July 2012
A dilapidated Carlisle footbridge that provides a vital link between Currock and Denton Holme is set to be replaced at last.
Cumbria County Council is consulting on three options for a new bridge over the Cumbrian coast railway between Lund Crescent and Maryport Cottages.
More than 600 people signed a petition in 2008 calling for the existing stepped footbridge to be upgraded with ramps to allow bicycles, prams and wheelchairs to get across.
Now council engineers have drawn up three options, which are the subject of a public consultation.
Exhibitions at Currock House and Denton Holme community centres run until Thursday.
And there will be drop-in sessions at Denton Holme from 7.30pm-8.30pm on Monday and 4pm-5.30pm on Tuesday, and at Currock House from 4pm-6pm on Wednesday.
Denton Holme Labour councillor Hugh McDevitt, who has been lobbying for a new bridge, said: “This will bring the two communities together. It is now our number one scheme for this area.”
Adrienne Gill, of Arthur Street, Currock, is a regular user of the bridge.
But she finds it hard work with a push chair for her young son Kieran. She said: “I’m delighted that the bridge will finally be accessible for people with buggies, bikes and disabilities.
“It has been a long time coming but it will make a big difference.”
The bridge will give cyclists in Currock and Upperby easy access to the Caldew cyclepath.
This provides onward links to the city centre, the Sands Centre and Cumberland Infirmary.
The new bridge is likely to cost around £1 million but the council hopes the cycling charity Sustrans will chip in.
Sustrans had agreed to provide lottery funding for the bridge as part of the Connect2 scheme for a cross-city cycleway, which was abandoned last year.
First published at 11:28, Monday, 23 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
If the bridge does go ahead I hope the county council see fit to include local contractors on the tender list as placing a contract with a company from Manchester or Leed etc. does nothing for the local economy in terms of creating jobs.
View all 47 comments on this article
Have your say
Hi Brian,
Fact - The consultation document issued by Cumbria County Council document states"Why is this scheme being looked at
The existing bridge is substandard with very poor approaches and is difficult for pedestrians, let alone cyclists to use".
The access steps are a " considerable barrier for cyclists, people with pushchairs and those with limited mobility"Opinion
I agree. Emily feels that it is a ridiculous to talk about the bridge being dangerous. You say that your views are in line with hers.I respect your views but contend that the current bridge represents by virtue of its steep steps and poor access, a danger to users (pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users) travelling from one side of the city to another.
Posted by A cyclist on 1 August 2012 at 10:25