Concern at HGV bridge plan
Last updated at 14:20, Friday, 02 March 2012
A COMMUNITY is outraged over a “ludicrous” road plan which they say would put “lives in danger”.
Cumbria County Council wants to put a 7.5 tonnes weight restriction on Rowe Head Railway Bridge, in Pennington.
Network Rail has requested the council makes the order, and said the bridge is “inadequate to take full highway loading”.
But residents of Pennington and Loppergarth are angered that heavy goods vehicles – including fire engines – would be forced to use narrow and single track routes, such as at Low Greaves in Pennington and Loppergarth, if the ban was in place.
Objecting householders say the bridge should be strengthened.
They are dismayed there are no exceptions for any vehicle over the weight, which means fire engines would have to take longer routes to get to their homes.
The rural location is also frequently used by milk tankers, animal feed delivery wagons and farm vehicles.
Farmer Andrew Wood has made a sign which he has placed on the bridge with the message: “Say no to bridge closure to HGVs, there’s no other way.”
Mr Wood, of Channel House Farm, Pennington, said: “It’s absolutely ludicrous.
“It would affect the fire service, as there are no exceptions, and it would make their journey longer, it’s dangerous. Large vehicles would have to use single track roads. Only recently a wagon got stuck at Low Greaves.
“There is no alternative route for large vehicles. It will affect all of Pennington because 90 per cent of the houses will use heating oil and that is delivered in a wagon. There are the bin wagons, feed wagons and milk tankers.
“They should fix the bridge.”
Alan Myerscough, a Loppergarth farmer, and owner of Ulverston’s Ford motorcar dealership, said: “It would cause absolute chaos through all the narrow lanes. It would be a nightmare, there would be accidents. With no exceptions for fire engines lives would be put in danger.”
Plans can be viewed at Ulverston and Flookburgh post offices and Objections can be sent to The Head of Legal Practice, The Courts, Carlisle, CA3 8LZ by March 22.
First published at 12:00, Friday, 02 March 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Make your comment
More Ulverston news
- Ulverston pub reopens for bank holiday weekend
- Cumbria Murder Update-accused ‘believed radio was talking to him’
- Musical Farewell to Lindal teenager Bethany Crook
- Cumbria glass firm manufactures props for Downton Abbey
- Cumbria bikers in 130-mile trip in aid of family fighting serious illnesses
- Ulverston WalkFest takes steps to widen its appeal
- Hearing into plans for thousands of South Lakes homes to resume next month (4 comments)
- Ulverston post office open today despite strike threat
- Group of Ulverston young adults reveal their dream of an urban oasis
- Lanterns brighten Ulverston sky in memory of ‘a wonderful girl’
- Donation will help Cumbria group continue its good work
- Doughnut seller Neil angered by ‘unfair’ Ulverston market trading rules (4 comments)
- Cumbria County Council election
- South Lakes 'best place to live' thanks to falling crime rate
- Staff ‘lucky’ to flee from blaze at Ulverston takeaway
- Buckingham Palace invitation for Ulverston girl Milly Pyne, 14 (5 comments)
- Buckingham Palace invitation for Ulverston girl Milly Pyne, 14
- Swarthmoor pothole cluster in street is fixed
- Cut in Ulverston police station opening hours ‘is prelude’ to station axe
- Tortured RAF pilot tells his story at Ulverston business event
- Road reopens after Ulverston pizzeria goes up in flames (1 comment)
- Lake District Farmers fund offers cash boost for Ben, 6
- South Lakes councillor blasted over ‘grotty Ulverston’ comments (12 comments)
- Ulverston
- Barrow and Furness MP struck by kindness of Ulverston foodbank helpers
Have your say
As a resident of Low Greaves, I urge Cumbria County Council to personally take a trip and assess the alternative routes that will need to be used by HGVs if the Rowe Head bridge is not open to them. What the Council will find is a route where the road is in an appalling state of repair (potholes that small animals can get lost in and the edges of the road surface collapsing into the verges); does not have the road width for even two cars to pass safely (nevermind HGVs) for much of the route and in some cases (as demonstrated with last week's incident involving the container wagon) is impassable for some of the traffic that will be diverted. I completely agree with Mr Wood and Mr Myerscough - "there is no other way" but to fix the bridge and it will be "absolute chaos" should this restriction be put in place. I am not being a NIMBY in holding this view...the alternatives to fixing the bridge are simply unsafe.
Posted by Lisa on 5 March 2012 at 19:50