Ten Swing/lift bridges fail this month!

Published: Thursday, 29 September 2022

YESTERDAY, Wednesday, saw two more swing bridges fail.

Both due to electrical failures with Maghull Swing Bridge (12) on the Leeds & Liverpool and Ufton Swing Bridge on the Kennet & Avon closing the waterways, Keith Gudgin reports.

wrenbury lift bridgeContractors

In the case of the latter, it is expected that contractors will be able to install the required replacement components, and Ufton Swing Bridge is lacking power. This makes a total of ten swing/lift bridge failures so far this month.

It started with Wood End Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest, then (in order) Padworth Swing Bridge on the Kennet & Avon, Warehouse Swing Bridge on the Leeds & Liverpool, Coxhead (of course!) on the Leeds & Liverpool, Wrenbury Lift Bridge on the Llangollen (pictured), Top Lane Lift Bridge on the New Junction, Plank Lane Lift Bridge on the Leeds & Liverpool, Boothferry Swing Bridge on the Ouse.

Long-suffering Leeds & Liverpool

With the two failures yesterday this make ten failures in just under a month!  With four on the long-suffering Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

This is not right, there is something very much amiss with such a situation of failures. And hardly the 'excellent condition of the waterways' that we are led to believe.