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Published:
May 28, 2007
Exclusive:
Fresh hopes for end to Highbridge rail bridge dispute
A
high-level meeting of councillors and Network Rail has raised
fresh hopes of an early end to the dispute over Highbridge's Walrow
railway bridge.
Burnham-On-Sea.com
exclusively broke
the news in March that the previously busy bridge, pictured
above, would close for up to four years due to much-needed strengthening
work. Since then, traders have seen a big downturn in trade and
a huge campaign has been launched to get it re-opened.
 Burnham's
Deputy Mayor Cllr Neville Jones (pictured) and Town Clerk Eileen
Shaw met with Network Rail bosses and Somerset County Council
chiefs last Thursday and while they are unable to reveal specific
details of what was discussed, they said they are now "optimistic"
that a solution will soon be found.
"Network
Rail was very considerate and showed an understanding of the problems
Highbridge traders are facing," Cllr Neville Jones told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
"If
the confidential proposal that was discussed at the meeting comes
to fruition we shall all be very pleased."
"I
am now reasonably optimistic that we won't have to wait until
2010 to get the bridge re-opened."
Town
Clerk Eileen Shaw said Network Rail is due to come back with a
firm proposal on how to resolve the problem by the end of June.
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for minister to get involved
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visits concerned traders in Highbridge
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Councillors
lead fresh bid to find solution to bridge closure
Burnham's
MP vows to fight bridge closure
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Your
opinions on the bridge closure
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