DETAILED proposals for the structural strengthening of the banks of the River Mersey at Bridge Foot, Warrington, will be put to planning chiefs tonight.
The work will require the temporary dismantling of the Grade 2 Listed Cenotaph which stands by the busy Bridge Foot convergence of Knutsford Road, Wilderspool Causeway, Mersey Street and Bridge Street.
Council planners propose to remove the Cenotaph for storage in a secure place while the work is carried out. It will be replaced afterwards – with a number of repairs carried out at the same time.
Members of the development management committee will be told the work is necessary because of the partial collapse of the river bank which is affecting the stability of the ground on which the Cenotaph stands.
The Cenotaph is a Grade 2 Listing Building, Warrington Bridge is on the local list of heritage assets and the site is within the Bridge Street Conservation Area.
It is also believed the site lies at a known historic crossing of the Mersey thought to have been in use from prehistoric times. Meaning archaeological remains of possibly high significance could be disturbed by the proposed work.
It is proposed to use vibratory hammers to carry out sheet piling work on the river bank to minimise potential damage to fish stocks in the river and to restrict vegetation clearance on the banks during the bird breeding season.
The partially collapsed river bank
