Local MP presses County Council on Crooklands Bridge

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 24th Oct 2007

Tim Farron has written to Cumbria County Council in an effort to force them to press forward with measures that will prevent the Crooklands Bridge from being damaged in the future. The bridge, which has been seriously damaged three times in recent months, is part of a well-used route between A65 and the Kent Estuary is crucial to the local area.

British Waterways are responsible for the bridge itself but they are understandably reluctant to make repairs until the County Council has taken steps to protect the bridge from further damage. Earlier this year, the county council made a promise to look at ways in which it could bring in protective measures but so far it has done nothing.

Meanwhile, the footpath beneath the bridge is closed and the bridge remains in a state of disrepair.

Mr Farron has written to the County Council Chief Executive, Peter Stybelski, before on this matter, but regrettably nothing has been done to fix the bridge.

Tim Farron said:

"I have received a number of letters from local residents on this, not least of which was from the Canal Restoration Trust, expressing displeasure at the amount of time that has elapsed without the bridge being repaired.

"I have written to the Council in the hope that a solution to this problem can be arrived at as soon as possible, and I hope to hear back from the Chief Executive very soon."