Bridge infill ‘could prevent Eden Valley Railway-Stainmore link’
A COUNCIL has questioned moves by Highways England to infill a road bridge over a disused trackbed that could one day be used to connect the Eden Valley Railway in Cumbria to the Stainmore Railway at Kirkby Stephen East.
Eden Valley District Council in Cumbria said Highways England had refused its request to stop the works on the bridge at Great Musgrave, near Warcop.
The council acknowledged that Highways England has permitted development rights to undertake work on the bridge without the need for planning permission to be granted beforehand.
However, the council's planning service has opened a dialogue with the company “to understand the full extent, nature and reasoning for the proposed works at Great Musgrave, to ascertain whether the works do fall within permitted development rights.”
“This is an ongoing matter and discussions have not yet concluded,” read a council statement. “Once sufficient information has been provided by Highways England, the planning service will be able to judge whether these works do constitute a permitted development, or if they require the prior granting of planning permission.”
Following the abolition of BRB (Residuary) Ltd in 2013, the Highways Agency was handed responsibility for managing the Department for Transport's Historical Railways Estate (HRE) collection of around 3800 bridges, tunnels and viaducts that are no longer part of the operational network.
HRE response
David Wheatley, Highways England's head of scheme delivery for the HRE, said: “As part of our stewardship of the HRE, we determined the Musgrave Lane bridge – which carries the B6259 over the old railway line – needed strengthening to safeguard the road's absolutely vital role in connecting local communities like Warcop and Great Musgrave. We have complied with any planning requirements and have consulted widely – including with Eden Valley District Council, Sustrans and the Eden Valley Railway Company – on our plans to strengthen the bridge with an infilling scheme, which we aim to complete this financial year.”
The HRE Group was recently formed to oppose Highways England plans to demolish or infill structures of historic value or which could be reused as key components of reopened railways, footpaths and cycleways.
The group claimed that according to Highways England's own inspection reports, the bridge is in ‘fair' condition, shows no signs of being overloaded and has no significant defects. While Highways England has said that the infilling is reversible, the group claims such a blockage would be too difficult and costly to remove. It also disputed Highways England's statement that it has consulted with the EVR, which, along with the Stainmore Railway, has the ultimate aspiration to create an 11-mile railway between their two existing bases.
Also on the Highways Agency's list for infilling is Mill Lane bridge on the former Colne Valley & Halstead Railway trackbed between Castle Hedingham and Halstead, which could block a future extension of the heritage era Colne Valley Railway to the latter town.
HRE director Richard Marshall said: “Our most recent assessment of the Mill Lane bridge showed that it was in poor condition and unsafe for vehicles over three tonnes. Work to strengthen the cast iron beam structure and bring it up to the eight tonnes limit, which is indicated on nearby road signs, would be very difficult and expensive to carry out.
“Work on the bridge will require planning permission. If our planning application is approved and subject to there being no local plans to reuse the bridge, we would look to infill the structure during financial year 2023/24. Infilling will preserve the structure and can be reversed should plans be developed to put the structure back into use.”
Paul Lemon, chairman of Colne Valley Railway Preservation Limited, said: “The sensible thing would be to put in a level crossing. But even if the Halstead extension doesn't happen, it's a perfect route for a footpath or cycleway. Our proposal is for a cyclepath alongside the track – it is wide enough.”
The railway's initial focus for any extension would, however, be in the opposite direction, northwards to Great Yeldham, if the A1017 road could again be bridged.
Elsewhere, Mr Marshall said that Highways England has “no plans” to infill a 162-year-old bridge near Saltash designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel unless it is absolutely necessary.
The bridge has not been used by trains since 1907; a deviation line was built the following year to eliminate the wooden viaducts on a bypassed original section of the Cornwall Railway main line as engineered by Brunel. Since the line was moved, the bridge has been used solely as private access to a farm. Mr Marshall said that it was planned to assess the bridge's capacity to ensure it is safe to be used by heavy vehicles before deciding on any next steps.
Cornwall Railway Society John Ball secretary said the bridge might benefit from minor repairs, but demolishing or infilling it would “amount to cultural vandalism.”
“The bridge might benefit from a few minor repairs, but demolishing or infilling the Brunel bridge would amount to cultural vandalism.”