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'Bring back our bridge!' - Farron blasts failure to replace bridge destroyed by floods

March 3, 2010 12:00 AM

Local MP Tim Farron has today blasted the authorities as local residents in Backbarrow continue to deal with life without their vital local foot bridge which collapsed in last years floods

With the road bridge at the Whitewater Hotel also out of action because of the recent floods, pedestrians are unable to easily access services in the village. Local residents currently have to drive from one side of the village to the other to get out of the village, and those without cars are effectively stranded and prevented from reaching the village shop, school and doctors surgery because of the broken bridge. School children who would normally take just 5 minutes to walk to school have to make the new, longer trip by minibus.

The bridge is owned by Cumbria County Council, which assumed control of it from the Lake District National Park Authority last year. So Tim has been actively lobbying Cumbria County Council with Lib Dem County Councilor Rod Wilson and they have both called for the speeding up of the replacement of the bridge.

Tim said: "I am demanding that the government and Cumbria County Council step up and deliver on their promises of support for local flood victims. Talk is cheap - I want to see action on the ground to reassure me and the local community. I have been working hard to make sure that the people of Backbarrow are not forgotten by the government and the County Council and that they get their bridge back. The missing footbridge and damaged road bridge are causing real hardship to local residents, and is even threatening the viability of the village shop.

The Government said a lot of positive things just after the floods hit last year. Now is the time for them to keep to their word and help join the community of Backbarrow back together again."

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