Delight for villagers as bridge reopens
RESIDENTS celebrated the re-opening of a refurbished bridge after years of battling to have it repaired.
The Ogden bridge, in Irwell Vale, was officially opened by resident Margaret Barker, 91, at an event to mark the occasion. The opening formed part of a wider day of fundraising activities to pay for new communal spaces in the village, which suffered extensive damage after flooding on Boxing Day in 2015.
The bridge serves as the only access point to the village and the £410,000 works - funded by Lancashire County Council (LCC) - have taken three years.
Eden councillor and Irwell Vale resident Janice Johnson made a speech before Margaret cut the ribbon to officially open the bridge. She thanked past and present residents, and ●● Margaret Barker, 91, officially opened the structure councillors from LCC and Rossendale council for all their hard work in getting the new bridge.
Coun Johnson said: “There’s been a lot of goodwill for a lot of people in order to get this bridge finished.
“The residents have been living on their nerves while the works have been ongoing and now they can relax.”
A total of £1,000 was raised after the opening towards tidying up the village’s community areas.