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Highways
and Rights of Way Information
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Latest Highways
News January 2012 August 2011
May 2011
November 2010
September 2010
August 2010
April 2010
March 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
June 2009
April/May 2009
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Field of Pigs between Finsthwaite and Ealinghearth: January 2012: The deep pothole at the 'pig field' between Ealinghearth and Finsthwaite under the flooded area had been mended in May, but the situation is now even worse than ever, with 2 areas of flooding and deepening potholes. We know that sometimes this road is impassable and people have suffered damage to their vehicles.
Your Parish Council is putting pressure on the various agencies to resolve the complaints that have arisen with respect to the management of this land and its stock, namely:
A meeting of various agencies (EA, County, LDNPA, DEFRA, Natural England, Colton Parish Council) was held in December to try to resolve all the issues. We are awaiting developments. We urge you to contact Cumbria Highways at contact@cumbriahighways.org.uk if concerned about the state of the road (clicking on this email link will also copy your message to Colton PC and to your County Councillor, Rod Wilson). |
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Bouthrey Bridge (between Nibthwaite and Water Yeat): December 2011 - Bouthrey Bridge has been completed and the road re-opened! An opening ceremony was held at the bridge on 19th December.
June 2011 - Press release from Cumbria County Council on Bouthrey Bridge repairs: "Bouthray Bridge repair underway Once Bouthray reopens, Workington's Northside bridge - where work
is ongoing to provide a replacement bridge by May 2012 - will be the
only key road bridge in Cumbria that was either destroyed or damaged
in the floods that is still to be replaced. In the immediate flood
aftermath 20 road bridges were closed. May 2011 - We have received notification that works will start to rebuild the bridge on 23rd May. The footbridge will be removed and the road closed for several months over the summer whilst this takes place. January 2011 - Temporary footbridge to be constructed. Bridge reconstruction works to start in June 2011. 16th November: Reply received from County Council with accompanying Project Delivery Summery of progress to date and explanation for the delay (due mainly to gaining consents associated with the listed status of the bridge and the environmental sensitivity of the area). Works will now take place between June and September next year. A temporary structure during the winter looks unlikely. 10th November: Letter sent to the Chief Executive asking for action. 3rd November: It seems that the window of opportunity for repair of the bridge has passed this year and, despite all the Parish Councils' representations and strong representations from our County Councillors, nothing has been done. Our County Councillor, Rod Wilson, has asked that a letter of explanation be sent to both Parish Councils on why no repairs were carried out during the summer. They are hoping to put in a temporary footbridge. Despite our representations on behalf of the farming community, they say that this is unlikely to be robust enough to allow stock movements. Needless to say, we are very unhappy about the situation and are continuing to push for a footbridge that can carry stock. PLEASE NOTE: Highways now feel they need to secure the bridge because the damage is such that it could collapse over the winter. During the period since it was closed following last Novembers floods I have been aware that pedestrians have been going round the barriers and crossing the bridge. What is now proposed is to secure the bridge with proper barriers which are bolted to the road. Highways feel that health and safety factors mean they must ensure the bridge is fully secure. 6th Sept 2010 update: From David Cathcart (Engineer): "Sorry for the delay in replying but we had a meeting on site with Amey and a piling contractor on Friday (3rd) to discuss the works. Amey are preparing a programme for the works which can then be used to discuss with the Environment Agency any restrictions on works in the river. It will become clearer what can be achieved this year when the programme is discussed with the EA." 30th July 2010 update: Both Colton and Blawith-and-Subberthwaite Parish Councils, and both County Councillors are pressing for an extension to the Environment Agency 'window' to try to get the bridge repaired this year. We are emphasising the needs of local people and the farming community. 23rd July 2010 update: Email from Highways Engineer, David Cathcart, to the organiser of the Coniston 14 race: " I’m afraid Cumbria Highways cannot give any guarantees on this bridge being open for the Coniston 14 race on 9 April 2011. Cumbria Highways are still planning to restore the bridge this year but there are a number of issues which have a bearing on this. Environment Agency have issued consent for the Ground Investigation Works and these are now complete on site and we have just received the results to allow the design of the new upstream arches and the stabilisation of the retained downstream arches to be completed. The boreholes have shown that significant works will be needed to stabilise the retained downstream masonry arches and to provide suitable foundations for the new upstream arches . The Environment Agency have also issued consent for the Temporary & Permanent Works but there is a condition that we have to complete the works in the river by the end of September. The Listed Building Consent has been received in the last week so that the existing Listed Structure can be altered.
To complete the works in this time scale will be challenging and any
setbacks due to difficult ground conditions and flooding could
jeopardise the delivery of the bridge this year. We apologise for
the delay in responding as we were in process of analysing the
effect on the project of the findings of the ground investigation.
We will continue to work towards reopening the bridge as soon as
possible. " 13th May update: Planning application received from LDNPA for Option B (favoured option) for reconstruction of bridge. No objection submitted. 21st March update: Following the Public Meeting at Water Yeat on 11th March, there was clear support for Option B: Repair of the bridge. The Council endorsed this at its meeting and has responded to Capita accordingly. See: 26th February update: PUBLIC MEETING 11th March, 7.00 pm, Water Yeat to discuss reconstruction options. 16th February 2010 update: The Council is being consulted on options for repair/replacement of Bouthrey Bridge over the River Crake, scheduled for repair in October this year. The 3 options are essentially i) demolish and replace both arches ii) re-build just the upstream side and repair and stabilise the rest iii) replace the bridge with a new pre-cast concrete rectangular beam deck. An early response from the Council has been requested. Please contact the Clerk if you would like to see the plans and express an opinion. However, we are considering, with Blawith, holding a public meeting in the next fortnight.
22nd December update: Our
County Councillor reports:
"The
bridge is damaged and the arch may have sunk a little. Part of the
arch on the upstream side has gone. They will not even consider
using it for pedestrians which is causing the farmer there big
problems." It is scheduled for a full inspection shortly.A
meeting is scheduled in the New Year of Colton and Blawith
Parish Councils and both County Councillors to make a case for a
temporary arrangement for the bridge.
From Keith Masser, Acting Area Highways Engineer: Repair proposals are being developed for the bridge and those will include a likely timescale. As far as the practicality and likelihood of any temporary arrangement is concerned, I could not really advise you as I am not a structural engineer. I think the best approach would be for yourselves and the Parish Councils to provide as complete a picture as is possible of the issues and impact that the bridge is causing and likely to cause over the next few months if mitigation measures are not put in place, together with any suggestions or proposals that local people may have, and I shall arrange for these to be considered as part of the repair assessment and our bridges engineers can then advise you as to the proposals and options analysis so that you can then further input to the process - via a site meeting if then necessary.
As far as the Coniston 14 Road Race
is concerned, as a runner and ex-organiser of quite a few
events, some of which had to be cancelled or postponed,
I definitely understand the frustration and potential
disappointment of the event organisers. I also appreciate the
need for them to be given some certainty as to plans for the
bridge in terms of timescale. However, I am also aware that
quite a number of events had to be cancelled in 2008 because of
the wet summer, some of them much larger than the Coniston 14
Road Race - and possible cancellation is a risk that all
outdoor event organisers sometimes have to face. That said, we
want everyday life in Cumbria, including tourism and visitor
activity, to be restored as quickly as possible and we will
certainly take the event into account.
The frequenty asked questions
website link that I sent you previously will be updated as the
various situations develop but in the meantime I shall ask that
you are kept updated as to any new developments or information
on Bouthrey Bridge.
16th December update from Keith Masser, Acting Area Engineer for South Lakeland | Cumbria Highways, Environment | Cumbria County Council, County Offices| Kendal | Cumbria | LA9 4RQ: "The Bouthrey Bridge has now been inspected and repair works identified. The next stage is to look at timescales for restoring this and the other damaged bridges in Cumbria back to a usable condition, together with a decision in some cases as to whether any bridges should not only be repaired but upgraded. We are still in the information gathering and assessment stage and I am not in a position to advise on repair timescales yet but I hope to have more information next week. I understand following the recent inspection that the basic damage repair option would include reconstruction of a missing section of pier, reconstruction of damaged arch rings, reconstruction of collapsed spandrel wall and parapets; plus saddling the arches with concrete and masonry repointing for structural integrity.Given the extent of damage to the bridge, it is not considered safe to open to pedestrian traffic which would, in any event, also likely encourage use for the movement of livestock and consequential increased loadings."
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Who to Contact for Highways Problems: 1. Lengthsman via Councillor Ian Cunliffe (01229 861440) for:
2. Highways Hotline (24/7 service): 0845 609 6609 or go to Cumbria Highways Report a Fault page for:
South Lakeland District Council (0845 050 4434 or go to: www.southlakeland.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=2442 )
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Highway Steward
Cumbria Highways decided to withdraw their Highway Stewards in December 2010 with little notice and no replacement. We are still awaiting information on how Parishes are to liaise with Highways in the future. |
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Lengthsman
Please send in your requests for jobs to Cllr Ian Cunliffe on 01229 861440. (Please note that Tony is only contracted for 2 days per month.)
Below is a list of jobs completed to date:
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Winter Maintenance of Roads - Gritting, grit bins and heaps. 9th December 2010 - Highways delivered 5 tons of salt to Oxen Park on Monday 6th which was distributed to Rusland, Ickenthwaite and Bandrake Head by volunteers - many thanks everyone. Then of course it snowed through the night! Just over 1 ton was also delivered to Nibthwaite Grange. We have asked for further supplies for Nibthwaite and a delivery to be sent to Old Hall Farm, Bouth - hopefully in the next couple of days. 8 new salt bins have also been delivered and have been filled. We are expecting 2 more from funding allocated through the Local Area Partnerships; one of these will go to Bouth. 4th December 2010 - Highways are to deliver an emergency supply of salt, as they did for last year, to two places in the Parish - Oxen Park and Nibthwaite. We will hopefully receive this very soon and be distributing it - volunteers needed please! Contact the Clerk, Mandy Lane on 01229 861408 or at coltonpc@btinternet.com . 22nd November 2010 - The contractors claim to have filled all the Colton bins at the start of this month, but I have made Highways aware that some bins are in fact still empty (Bent Hawes, Finsthwaite, Stott Park, Rusland Cross). Hopefully Highways will get this sorted out soon. I have asked for heaps on Bletherbarrow Lane / Stock Farm. We are still awaiting the promised new bins (all our requests have been approved - see list) ..... On the positive side, heaps have been distributed over Bessy Bank. November 2010 County have agreed to supply the 8 additional grit bins we requested for the Parish in our response to their questionnaire back in April. We are also to get 2 additional bins through the Local Area Partnership. We should be seeing these in place soon! Click here for the list of bins and their locations. We are still awaiting salt supplies to our existing bins - watch this space. Salt heaps have been provided along the Penny Bridge to Hawkshead road, but as for last year, for some reason the bins have been left empty! (I have asked why...awaiting reply). We have also been told that County have decided not to provide a single heap of salt as last year unless emergency supplies are needed. We have been asked to locate a place for delivery, should this be the case. October 2010 Highways say that our existing salt bins will be filled by the end of the month. April 2010
See Colton's response to the
winter gritting consultation from Cumbria Highways:
Winter 09/10
December - As far as we are aware only one salt heap has appeared in the Parish - mysteriously at Springfield, Colton - we don't know how it got there or why salt appeared there and no-where else! We have been onto the Area Highways Engineer for urgent delivery of salt. Our County Councillor is also on the case. We cannot believe that despite all our complaints and the consequent reassurances of last winter that we are in the same boat once again.... The one positive development is the routine gritting of the Penny Bridge to Hawkshead road. October- the Parish Council sent in its map of salt bins and heaps required for the coming winter. Winter 08/09 Update - March: We have been in helpful correspondence with Mr Rob Lawley, Cumbria Highways, who is taking on board our complaints about the lack of salt/grit this winter, along with those from neighbouring parishes. We are preparing a map of salt bins and heaps - existing and proposed - for him to work with. He is also investigating the possibility of making the Penny Bridge-Colton-Satterthwaite-Grizedale road a priority 2 route for routine gritting, which we are strongly supporting. He has offered to come and speak to the Parish Council at our meeting on 22nd June at Colton Church Hall. Update (Tues 20th Jan): 2 new salt bins have been provided (via our County Councillor, Ted Walsh) and have now been installed at Rusland Cross and Bent Hawes - and they contain some salt! Update (Thurs 8th Jan): Salt has now been delivered to some parts of the parish and the road from Penny Bridge through to Oxen Park and up to some parts of Rusland has also been salted a couple of times over the recent cold period. However, I know that Rusland has STILL had no deliveries of salt to heaps/bins. We are writing to Cumbria Highways - our own letter, plus a joint submission with other neighbouring Councils - to complain about the lack of salt provision and to ask them to put in place a proper procedure to plan for the winter and deliver salt/grit well in advance in future. Update (Thurs 11th Dec): Salt has at last been delivered (Wednesday 10th December) to bins and heaps between Tottlebank and Rusland, though unfortunately none yet at Bent Hawes (notorious spot) where this morning the road was like glass.... Hopefully more salt will be delivered soon. As you may know, Cumbria Highways do not salt minor roads, which form the vast majority of highways in our parish (see their webpage: 'priority routes' for salting - from which you should be able download the "winter driving" leaflet that shows a map of salted roads). They are, however, supposed to stock our salt bins and provide salt heaps at key locations throughout the parish, for us to spread on a voluntary basis. It seems that we have not been visited by the salt vans this winter and stocks are very low or non-existent. Many thanks to those who have rung in to let us know about the lack of salt. We have been onto Cumbria Highways to replenish our bins and salt heaps and have asked for this to be done as a matter of urgency. We were promised some by 4th December. No vans have been yet to deliver salt, although a gritter was sent up the road from Penny Bridge to Whitestock and over Bessie Bank on Friday 5th, which is something for those living on this route - but we STILL have not had a delivery of salt. I rang again - they say they will deliver some next week (wb 8th). We also enquired about the procedure for ensuring these are topped-up, and have been told that it varies year-on-year and that there is no regular system in place. We will be writing to Cumbria Highways to ask for clarification of procedures for provision of salt, in the hope that some kind of system is established in future. Watch this space. Our County Councillor (Ted Walsh) has arranged for us to have 2 additional salt bins at notoriously slippery locations at Bent Hawes (below Tottlebank cross-roads) and probably at Hall Brow (south of Oxen Park), which should be installed shortly. 7th December 2008
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haven't seen any but please let me know if any have appeared in
your area... Thanks...In addition, the bin at Bent Hawes appears
to have been left on its side and no grit
delivered to it, but a heap of grit left about 50 yards
away.....! arrggghhhh 
Tony
Atkinson, our new Lengthsman, started work in June and has made a
big difference already! 
