MORE than 4,000 people have signed a petition to save Preston’s Old Tram Bridge after it was announced it would be closed for the whole of the summer.
The petition calls on Lancashire County Council to restore the iconic crossing over the River Ribble.
And it declares: “Given that walking and cycling to work are far greener than using a car or even public transport, it would be foolhardy to remove this vital link in the network of pathways to the south of Preston.”
People signing the petition have also given their reasons for supporting the campaign. One wrote; “I walked this route many times from school to the sports fields at Factory Lane in the 60’s.
“My mother used it in the 20’s to get to sports fields too. It's a Preston landmark and an important link for walkers and cyclists to get exercise.”
Another supporter said: “There aren’t many places local where you can take the kids for a cycle and they’re safe from cars. It definitely needs to be fixed, so many people use and love this path.”
The popular route for walkers and cyclists was closed for safety reasons earlier this year. The Old Tram Bridge, which connects Preston’s Avenham Park with the neighbouring district of South Ribble, was shut by Lancashire County Council.
The move came after a detailed inspection raised concerns about its condition. A diversion was put in place directing people to use the nearby Avenham Viaduct Bridge instead, as it wass uncertain whether the Old Tram Bridge would be able to reopen.
The county council said it had been closely monitoring the condition of the Old Tram Bridge in recent years as maintenance issues have emerged, with some work being carried out to manage them.
However, the age of the bridge and the nature of the problems meant that it would eventually need to be replaced with a new one.
A working group has been formed by the local authority to consider the options available and next steps.
Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I’m sorry we’ve had to close the Old Tram Bridge, however this is our only option after the recent inspection raised concerns about its safety.”
A county council spokesman said: “We have now received the final inspection report which is being considered by a working group of officers in order to be able to make recommendations to the council’s cabinet in the near future.
“We have renewed the closure notice for the Tram Bridge until September, however may then need to extend the closure for a further period as the bridge can only be reopened when it is safe to use.”
The 1,300-strong Friends of the Old Tram Road Bridge group is lobbying to protect the bridge, which dates back to the 1800s, and is meeting with Councillor Iddon later this month at County Hall to discuss the matter.