Councillor criticises Barnoldswick footpath closure (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Councillor criticises Barnoldswick footpath closure

1:20pm Monday 28th January 2013 in News

A COUNCILLOR has criticised plans to close a popular footpath later in the year for bridge repairs, but county engineers insist it is for safety reasons.

It is proposed to shut the Pickles Hipping path, between Calf Hall Lane and Esp Lane, which was recently renovated by Pendle Borough Council and Barnoldswick Town Council.

Coun David Whipp has questioned why planned works to the old bridge there could not have been completed when the previous upgrades were being carried out.

But David Leung, county bridges design manager, said an inspection of the bridge had found a steel girder supporting the stone parapet had significantly corroded.

“We always put people’s safety first, so it is important to remove the risk of collapse,” he added.