Published: April 4, 2007
Exclusive: 800 angry residents in Highbridge sign bridge petition

More than 800 angry residents in Highbridge have signed a petition calling on Network Rail to bring forward work to open Walrow railway bridge, Burnham-On-Sea.com can reveal today.

In one of the town's biggest-ever petitions, campaigners have this week piled on the pressure onto Network Rail to bring forward its work to strengthen the bridge.

It comes after Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively broke the news last month that the busy bridge could close for 3-4 years until Network Rail completes the work.

Linda Davis, who has organised the petition, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "This petition really shows the strength of feeling there is to get something done here."

"Nearly all the businesses in the town have signed and many, many residents have joined in too."

"To have gathered 800 names in just a week is incredible."

"The three to four year bridge closure is just not good enough. We're putting forward the idea of reducing the width of the bridge to allow only light traffic to use it."

Town councillors last week met at the bridge with county roads bosses and the matter was debated at last week'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 In March and we reported last week how Burnham's MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, is also pressing Network Rail to bring forward its completion date.