Crawshawbooth villagers warned over unsafe bridge (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Crawshawbooth villagers warned over unsafe bridge

6:00pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Chris Adams

RESIDENTS in a village have been warned that the only bridge leading to their street is unsafe and should only be used ‘at their own risk’.

The footpath leading to Folly Terrace, off Goodshaw Lane in Crawshawbooth, comes with a warning after highways chiefs said it had deteriorated badly.

But Lancashire County Council cannot address the problem – because they don’t know who owns the unadopted road.

Bob Sheffield, who has lived on the road for ten years with his wife Jane, 58, says he is worried the bridge will only get worse due to the weather.

He has met with highways bosses, county councillor Tony Winder and Rossendale Council leader Alyson Barnes to address the problem. He believes there is a case for the council to lay claim to the bridge, but they think it belongs to the Duke of Buccleuch’s estate.

Retired marine surveyor Mr Sheffield, 65, said: “I know that there are other unadopted roads elsewhere in the valley being worked on by the county council, so why not this one?

“There has been no survey done – they have just looked at it and decided it’s unsafe. If that is the case, we need something done about it.

“We’ve been told we cross it or drive over it at our own risk. We’re stuck until someone takes responsibility.”

He added said emergency vehicles, council officials and United Utilities had to defy the closure notice to cross the bridge after recent flooding.

The only other access route to Folly Terrace is via a private farmers’ road off Bottomley Bank Lane.

Mr Sheffield has compiled a document of evidence stating that LCC has carried out work on street lighting and railings on the road, which he believes is evidence that they are responsible for its upkeep.

Coun Winder said the county council had contacted the Duke of Buccleuch’s estate and was awaiting a response.

Comments are closed on this article.