£200,000 appeal to repair bridge over the ‘GlosWarks’ line
A £200,000 appeal has been launched to pay for repairs to a bridge over the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
Bridge 8, a steel skew structure carrying the B4632 over the railway between Toddington and Broadway, needs to have its steelwork repaired – if possible during the closed season, as the work will require the line to be closed while the bridge is propped and scaffolding erected for contractors to carry out the work.
A window of opportunity has arisen for the task to be carried out in January and February 2022 but the line does not have the funds available, hence the G/WR Trust's urgent appeal.
Had it not been for the impact of the pandemic, the line would have been able to meet the cost out of its own resources but, said press officer Ian Crowder: “Because of Covid, the railway's funds are empty and we need to rebuild them.”
The bridge's steelwork has corroded, meaning that in recent years it has been subject to a weight restriction, with temporary traffic lights on the road to prevent two lorries crossing it at the same time.
The corrosion is believed to be the result of the structure's waterproofing being damaged in BR days when water and gas pipes were laid across the bridge.
Railway’s responsibility
As detailed in issue 286, when the G/ WR bought the line from BR, it took on responsibility for maintaining its bridges. “We own the bridge but the local council own the road,” explained Ian.“We've had long discussions with the council but unfortunately we can't prove that laying the services damaged it as it happened so long ago.”
Glyn Cornish, the G/WR Trust's chairman, added: “The utility companies responsible have long since been privatised, changed their names, amalgamated and essentially disappeared, so it is impossible to pursue them for a remedy. We are left to do it ourselves.”
The railway has already carried out some successful work to prevent further water ingress, clearing the verges of vegetation and then laying tarmac to waterproof them.
➜ Cheques payable to GWRT can be sent to Churchward House, Winchcombe Railway Station, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire GL54 5LD or donations made at www. gwrt.org.uk/Make_a_Donation/ New_Donations.html