What hope for the bridge?

THOUGH not built for the traffic of today, Bishopton Bridge on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal has become a rat-run for traffic, and with 500 new homes being built nearby, will hardly stand the pounding.

Like many others it once served a country lane but is now a rat run around Stratford. I think that the picture (by permission Stratford Herald) tells it all, Roger Fox remarks.

Working on the bridge

Recently Canal & River Trust has been working on the canal walls under the bridge and it would be interesting to know what they found when they dewatered the pound.

But how can such a bridge, which is narrow and widely regarded to be dangerous, cope with 500 homes being built on land just up the road.

The Trust has told the Stratford Herald this week it can cope despite discussions previously taking place over a new bridge during early negotiations between Warwickshire County Council, and Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes, the two companies behind the Bishopton housing development.

Repair work

Repair work has been done on both the bridge and the walls, and there is a plan to install traffic lights to control the expected increase in traffic, though no date has been given.

Ward District Councillor Robert Vaudry (Cons, Bishopton), stated:

"Locally we have had concerns about the apparent lack of investment in the canal bridge. I am pleased that the Canal & River Trust are now carrying out essential repairs to the bridge.

"I will be seeking assurances that these repairs are adequate to cope with the increase in traffic expected once the 500 houses are built on the Bishopton Lane development."

No new bridge

When permission was given in August 2016 for building a new school it was suggested a new bridge be built to take the increase in traffic, but then it was decided traffic light would suffice.

 

But surely if there are to be the nearby addition of 500 homes, and with a weight limit on the bridge, surely the builders of these homes should be responsible for the bridge as an access road, and construct a new one that is fit for purpose.