Published: March 30, 2007
Fresh bid to find solution at Highbridge's Walrow railway bridge

Concerned town councillors discussed the long-term closure of Walrow railway bridge in Highbridge when a Somerset roads boss visited the bridge on Thursday (March 29th).

The group of town councillors, led by Town Improvements Committee Chairman Cllr Louise Parkin, met with Liam Gill, the County Council's Assistant Highways Service Manager, to try and find a solution to the 3-4 year closure.

"We discussed many different lines of argument to get the bridge re-opened, but the health and safety implications mean it is too dangerous for it to be opened until Network Rail has completed its strengthening work," Cllr Parkin told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"The whole situation has been prompted by a small number of very inconsiderate and arrogant lorry drivers who have blatantly ignored the bridge's weight restrictions and used the road here for some time."

"There now appears to be nothing we can do except put pressure on Network Rail to bring forward their work from the current target date which is three to four years away."

"I feel very sorry for the businesses affected by this - it's a horrendous situation for them."

"I really fear that Highbridge is going to suffer badly as a result. When I visited Market Street earlier today, there were just three cars parked along the street."

Thursday's meeting at the bridge came after town councillors debated the matter at Monday's meeting of the Burnham and Highbridge Town Improvements Committee when councillors discussed ways of helping firms in the town.

It comes after Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively broke the news about the closure earlier this month and reported last week how Burnham's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, is pressing Network Rail to bring forward its completion date.