Still waiting planning permission for Big Lock bridge

THE Canal & River Trust is still waiting planning permission to replace the bridge over Big Lock at Middlewich.

Cheshire East Council has still not given the required permission for the listed Grade II footbridge over the lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal, Alfred Overton reports.

Deemed unsafe

The footbridge was closed last February as it was deemed unsafe, the problem being that its corrosion was worse than was first thought.

It was removed in June and taken to Canal & River Trust's workshops, where it has been repaired with stronger mesh decking and new struts, but is now waiting consent for approval  to amendments to its design from the council before it can be reinstated.

The picture shows the bridge being removed for repair with the temporary structure in the background.