THE ongoing repairs of Wolsingham’s Causeway Bridge is causing huge concern among those residents that live on the south side of the river.
The only bridge across the river Wear in the town has been undergoing repairs by Durham County Council since May this year. Although initially, the local authority planned a full closure over six months, they acceded to concerns from the residents – especially those who live on the north side and faced a 20-mile diversion to get to the other side – and changed plans to include pedestrian access at all times, and traffic access for most of the repair work.
There have been occasions where the diversion has had to be put in place and as the festive season approaches, there is to be another full closure to include pedestrians too. This has caused some major concerns from residents, not least because the diversion takes drivers around narrow lanes, often difficult in the winter months.
A road closure to vehicles will start on 24 November, with pedestrian access still available. From Monday 8 December, a full road closure to all vehicles and pedestrians is currently scheduled and is expected to be in place for two weeks. The bridge is expected to reopen on 19 December for the festive period. It is then scheduled to close to vehicles only on 5 January to allow for the scaffolding to be dismantled
A pensioner, who lives on the small estate near the railway station on the north side of the bridge, is very concerned.
She said, “Living over the river and being promised pedestrian access at all times, we at Station Lodge Park feel very let down. Also, it is the run up to Christmas so not the most convenient time.”
Mark Readman, Durham County Council’s head of highways, told the Gazette: “As the highway authority, we have a statutory duty to ensure Wolsingham Bridge is kept in a safe and serviceable condition. However, we understand the impact that any maintenance works can have, and we have done all that we can throughout the project to maintain vehicle and pedestrian access and keep disruption to a minimum.
“Due to the nature of the works, there have been occasions where a full closure is needed, with a diversion in place. The bridge now requires some full closures to allow the final stage of repairs to be carried out while keeping members of the public and our workforce safe.”
The pensioner, who we have decided not to name, responded, saying, “I think we have been treated very poorly and with no thought about us, we are all in our 70’s and 80’s so the impact is quite difficult for us.”
She added that she had reported the bridge road laminating almost eleven years ago to Durham County Council and no-one responded at the time or since until last year.
“I still don’t understand why we were told we would have pedestrian access at all times! I asked if it would be possible to do the bridge resurfacing in two halves but did not receive a satisfactory answer.”
Another resident from the same vicinity, Kim Proud, who lives in the Station House completely agreed. She said, “Whilst I realise the bridge needs work, in the original letter from Durham County Council, which is currently still on the Internet, it states there will be pedestrian access at all times.
“Businesses over this side of the river have staff who walk to work, people walk to school and walk to visit the village. It is completely unreasonable to not have pedestrian access especially just before Christmas.
“The way the council has underhandedly slipped this on to the schedule without telling anyone is just terrible. And there is confusion over the exact dates of closures.
“While speaking to the council on the phone, they quote a closure a week later than the Internet: the workmen said a week earlier, so no one seems to know.
“It is almost impossible to plan ahead with such conflicting, confusing and flimsy information.”
In an email to the pensioner, a member of the Highways Department replied to her query, asking that she accept his apologies on behalf of Durham County Council for previous misinformation supplied regarding the ongoing Wolsingham Bridge refurbishment works. He said that the authority has explored every available option to allow pedestrian access whilst carrying out this part of the work but to ensure the safety of both the public and our operatives it must exclude public pedestrian access but will endeavour to re-open the pedestrian access as soon as practicably possible.
He added, ‘We appreciate this will be inconvenient to members of the public who use the bridge daily, but we ask for your understanding and patience to allow us to complete this essential work as quickly as possible.’
Not only are there elderly residents adversely affected by the pedestrian closure, however, but some schoolchildren too who face the 20 miles each way diversion – and extra 40 miles per school day. Anyone without access to a vehicle would find the situation almost impossible. There are businesses there too, not least Wolsingham railway station, which should be available for passengers during the run-up to Christmas too.
Mark Readman, although apologetic said, “Work is progressing well on the bridge and we aim to have the works complete in the new year.”
