Concern raised over Barnoldswick footpath closure (From Craven Herald)

Concern raised over Barnoldswick footpath closure

10:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in News

A Pendle councillor has criticised Lancashire County Council over the authority’s plans to close a popular Barnoldswick footpath for up to two months this year.

“A couple of years ago, the Pickles Hippings path, which runs between Calf Hall Lane and Esp Lane, was renovated in a project funded by Pendle and Barnoldswick Town Council,” said Coun David Whipp (Lib Dem). “Stone setts were relaid, retaining walls repaired and resurfacing carried out.

“Now the county want to close the path for up to two months so the bridge over the stream can be repaired. I’m disappointed that the work wasn’t co-ordinated to tie-in with the closure when the other work was done.

“The path is one of Barnoldswick’s beauty spots and is on the route of our Beating the Bounds walk. We need to be making the most of it – not closing it at a time we want to attract visitors.”

He is asking the county council to reconsider the timing of the work and preserve the ancient part of the bridge when the work is carried out.

David Leung, Lancashire’s bridges design manager, said: “There was an inspection of the bridge last year and our engineers found that a steel girder that supports the stone parapet had corroded away to such an extent that it would affect the safety of the bridge.

“We always put people's safety first so it is important to remove the risk of collapse and danger to people walking across the footway.

“This means that the wall and parapet will have to be removed, but this work will be done very carefully so there is no damage to the stonework.

“The parapet and footway will be restored to their current condition.”