Scrutiny committee supports Colwall bridge decision

Councillors on Herefordshire Council's environment scrutiny committee agree that an alternative crossing is urgently required at the failing Colwall railway bridge.

The bridge closure last summer and subsequent partial re-opening to light traffic has brought chaos to roads and businesses in the area.

Amid continuing uncertainty on the timescale for Network Rail to repair the badly rusted structure, the committee came to this conclusion and noted that a Bailey Bridge, costing around £450,000, was emerging as a likely solution.

On December 13 cabinet agreed that a temporary bailey bridge be installed over Colwall railway bridge, if that was considered to be the most appropriate solution to the problem that has left the village divided and many local businesses struggling.

The committee "called in" the decision to explore concerns it had over three issues:

1. It wanted clarity over the contribution Network Rail would make towards the cost of a Bailey Bridge.
2. It wanted to know how much a permanent replacement bridge would cost to allow the comparison with the cost of a temporary Bailey Bridge
3. It wanted clarification as to why as least part of the proposed works could not be put out to competitive tender.

At its meeting on Wednesday, January 2, committee members were shocked by photographs of the underside of the bridge - that had, in parts, completely rusted through.

It was also explained to the committee how the bridge had been closed in August, when reports first revealed the extent of the damage caused by neglect and lack of maintenance.

During early December the bridge was re-opened to traffic weighing less than three tonnes - only a single lane of traffic is allowed to meander across the bridge in a tightly controlled lane which follows the path of the supports which have been least affected by decay.

Members of the committee were told that while Network Rail is responsible for the upkeep of the bridge (it has a legal obligation to ensure that the bridge can take only a 24 tonne stationary load in the middle of its span) Herefordshire Council, as the local highways authority, had responsibility to ensure the bridge could be used by moving vehicles weighing up to 40 tonnes.

Following a lively debate which lasted more than an hour, Cllr Roy Stockton, ward member for Colwall, told members of the committee they should not divert their attention from the heart of the problem.

"We don't want to be simply arguing over legal issues. We need a Bailey Bridge - and this is due to large-scale neglect by the bridge's owner, Network Rail."

Members of the committee heard that lorries were regularly becoming grounded on the alternative route through the village, verges were becoming churned up and tractors were frequently being called in to rescue stranded lorries, stuck as they tried to negotiate the narrow alternative route through the village.

As regards the £450,000 cost for the Bailey bridge, the committee was informed that Herefordshire Council had received a letter from Network Rail confirming it would cover half the cost with the council having to foot the remainder of the bill.

While the committee supports cabinet's decision of December 13 for a temporary bridge, it also made the following recommendations, which will now be considered by the cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transportation, Cllr Brian Wilcox:

That cabinet:

1) seek urgent clarification as to the legal responsibilities on both council and owners of non-council owned bridges over which a highway runs;

2) considers representation to the Health and Safety Executive on Network Rail's failures to adequately maintain Colwall Railway bridge;

3) agree that the final decision on the temporary crossing is treated as a key decision;

4) treat this as urgent in view of the detrimental effect on the local community.