Hoole Bridge footpath and cycle lane

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[edit] Introduction

At the end of March 2007, the local Lib Dems began collecting signatures on a petition to build a separate bridge alongside Hoole Bridge (at the end of Brook Street), to provide a footpath and cycle lane. The existing road bridge is very narrow and often clogged with traffic, while the pavement is too narrow and often used by cyclists as well in an attempt to avoid being flattened by juggernauts as they thunder in and out of town - except for the postal workers, who seem to have been told to brave the road on their pushbikes. Another hazard in wet weather is getting splashed as cars pass.

There is the Westminster Road footbridge over the railway at the other end of Lightfoot Street, but that's a long walk round. The only other alternative route is via Brook Lane, again a Long walk round.

Chester Station is undergoing massive redevelopment and refurbishment. According to the Lib Dems, money in phase 2 has been earmarked for the footbridge. The campaign aims to bring this stage of the redevelopment forward so that a foot/cycle bridge is built during phase 1.

In March 2007, Chesterwiki notified Chester LibDems about this page and the petition collectors and they came back with the indication that they knew nothing about this. Chesterwiki gave them more info and got silence as a response. Now I'm not saying that there are some people out there claiming to be the LibDem's when they are not, but I'll be a little more cautious about giving my details to anyone who stops me on the street.


It is interesting to note that the November 2007 issue of the LibDem's newsletter 'Focus' now contains no mention at all of their former campaign for foot/cycle paths alongside the bridge. Attempts are being made to ascertain just why this should be. Watch this space.

[edit] BRIDGE CLOSURE 2008

UPDATE (Nov 2007) - Hoole Bridge will be closed to both pedestrians and traffic for up to three months between January 2008 and April 2008. Details can be found on the Evening Leader website.

We suggested a temporary footbridge be a good idea - otherwise it is a long walk round and that will do nothing for the businesses in Hoole (especially the hotels). The County Council website now states that temporary footbridges will be installed vis "To allow for parts of Hoole Bridge to be demolished and reconstructed, the bridge will need to be closed to vehicles from February 11 2008 for approximately 8 -12 weeks. Pedestrians and cyclists will have access during this time over temporary bridges."

Bit of a victory I'd say...

[edit] The Petition


[edit] A response to County Councillor Peter Byrne

Lots of money is being spent doing up the station surroundings and soon lots more for strengthening Hoole Bridge so 44-tonne juggernauts will be able to thunder across it. But not a single penny to make the thing safer and more pleasant for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. The three-month closure (and probably longer, judging by the St. Martin's Way performance) will doubtlessly create all manner of problems for the community but it would be nice if at least we came out of it with some genuine benefits. The closure surely presents the golden opportunity to install outriggers to each side of the bridge for non-motorised users. The old pavements could then be removed, making it safer for drivers too.

Image:bridge1.jpg

Many readers will remember the old pedestrian access to the station. This should surely be opened up again too. This was closed some decades ago for 'safety' reasons and its entrance bricked up. You can still see it on the left as you approach from Hoole. It formerly gave access to a bridge that gave direct access to the platforms.

Hoole Road Bridge is without doubt the most dangerous and unpleasant place in Chester for those on two wheels or two legs and seemingly they've yet again been failed by planners, councillors and transport companies. For example, that long term supporter of the ill-fated CDTS Guided Busway, County Councillor Peter Byrne- Labour Chief Whip and spokesman on transport matters- was quoted in the Chester Standard as saying, "I did enquire about the possibility of doing other work on the bridge to have it widened and having better access for pedestrians. Unfortunately it's expensive to do and not financially possible".

In Chester, it seems, a price has been set on people's safety. When a cyclist or pedestrian is killed on Hoole Bridge, and they surely will be- the familiar sight of demolished walls, fences and the like where drivers have lost control assures us of that- will the good councillor be stepping forward to take his share of the blame?

Lest we forget- Cllr Byrne's thoughts on cyclist and pedestrian safety when enthusing in the local press about the 'Guided Busway':

• "Cyclists will have their own dedicated track, as will walkers, and they will not be constantly fighting with other vehicles for their road space".

• "an opportunity to create a city that is not choked with fumes and threatening to pedestrians, especially child pedestrians".

• "Bus lanes, traffic priorities at lights, encouragement of walking and cycling, traffic calming, safe routes to school, all these will in a short time be transforming the way we look at our traffic problems".

• "It would help us do more for pedestrians and cyclists and reduce congestion. It would offer a swift, clean and pleasant route into the city, not only for residents, commuters and visitors but cyclists and walkers too."

These things, it seems, were good for CDTS- so why not for Hoole Bridge?

No plans are apparently in place, either, to restore the appearance of the bridge- cleaning and repairing the stone, replacing the lamps and the like. Remember the fuss a few months ago when the building supplies company on the bridge wanted to erect a new, yellow sign? The councill objected, saying "this would detract from the appearance of the Conservation Area".


The debate about the future of Hoole Bridge, particularly concerning the safety of those who use it, continues, albeit in a deeply unsatisfactory manner involving organisations and political parties trying to blame each other instead of working together to sort the problem out. The issues concerned would be helped forward greatly if such as Network Rail's press officer, Keith Lumley, confined himself to telling the truth, as opposed to his absurd whopper in last week's local press that "Hoole Bridge would have to be completely rebuilt to include improved pedestrian and cycling facilities".


Image:wall.jpg

In response to recent comments in the press regarding the danger to pedestrians and cyclists on the bridge and the increasingly common sight of demolished walls etc when bad drivers lose control, here is a photograph of just such an event that took place in early December 2007- fortunately without injury- just a few yards away from Hoole Bridge! Does any more need to be said?

Local LibDems are proposing a 'cheaper' solution in the form of removing the pavement from one side of the bridge and doubling the width of the other to turn it into a combined cycleway and footpath. This seems absurd for a number of reasons, notably that pedestrians and cyclists approaching the path from the 'wrong' side of the road would be forced to cross the busy carriageway to access the path and would still be exposed to the ever-present danger (see illustration above) of being flattened by a vehicle losing control.

[edit] UKIP wades in

The Chester branch of the UK Independence Party will be protesting at the Brook Street end of Hoole Road Bridge at noon on Monday 11th Feb. The chairman of the Chester UKIP has said:

  • "This work, at a colossal cost to the taxpayer of £1.3 million, is not being carried out because the bridge is unsafe. It is purely because of EU rules. The strengthening work is being done to ensure the bridge is strong enough for the 40-tonne juggernauts from the Continent"

Cursory inspection of the underside of the bridge shows that it is held up by ageing metal props, and that the sub-structure of the main spans consists of what appear to be ancient cast iron arch sections.

[edit] Links

Retrieved from "http://www.chesterwiki.com/Hoole_Bridge_footpath_and_cycle_lane"
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