CALLS for a comprehensive traffic plan near a Warrington beauty spot have intensified after an articulated lorry demolished part of a bridge near Walton Hall and gardens.
The listed building, which crosses the Bridgewater Canal near the Walton Arms pub, was badly damaged after being struck by an lorry carrying a supply of bricks earlier today (Monday).
Parish council chairman Malcolm Eldridge said: “Local residents are very concerned about traffic on Warrington Road past the Golf Course and at Rosewood crossroads.
“A death there together with many serious accidents led to a meeting with local residents and myself last Saturday at which it was suggested that lorries on Warrington Road was less of a problem than in the past.
“But this latest incident shows that lorry drivers are failing to follow road signs, and if they get trapped at the bridge it is very difficult to reverse all the way back to Rosewood crossroads.
“Better signage, better satnavs, more common sense on the part of drivers would all help but there is a need for a comprehensive plan for traffic in this very busy and much-loved area of Warrington.
“The number of cyclists and walkers along these winding, narrow, badly-managed country roads leads to many near accidents, one fatality and inevitable damage to the sandstone walls that are an important feature of the local area.
Local resident Peter Priestner added: “Walton Bridge, like the other hump back Bridgewater Canal bridges, is a listed building and I hope Peel Holdings and Warrington Borough Council can source enough eighteenth century bricks and sandstone for full restoration to original spec for both bridge and park wall. The upside is that the party responsible is known and insurers should be fitting the bill.”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: The Council were made aware that the bridge parapet had been knocked down this morning.
“We understand that the damage took place when a large delivery wagon drove across it earlier this morning. The council and police were on site this morning to deal with road traffic management issues. They alerted Peel who own the bridge and they were on site at 12.15pm.
Peel are responsible for repairing the bridge.”
The road is currently closed and diversions are in place and a police investigation is underway.
Residents call for traffic plan after historic Walton Bridge demolished by lorry
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