Rail bridge - success at last

10.49.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th May 2009

Malcolm Cowan with the ugly buildouts that will be removed so the bridge can be improved.

The rail footbridge at WGC linking the Howard Centre to Hydeway, and giving access to the rail station is to get a new lease of life - and the much-disliked barriers that reduce the width are to go.

Malcolm Cowan , LibDem county and borough councillor, has been negotiating with Network Rail, who own the bridge, and Tesco, who own the land on which much part of the bridge lies, for 2 years.

He says 'This is great news. The bridge has become a sorry sight. I got Network Rail to provide proper lighting last year, but we still needed to have wider upgrade. The condition of the bridge meant that the width reductions were put in place some years back. Now we have agreement for the bridge to be strengthened, so the barriers can go. I hope it can then be repainted.

'I am very grateful to Tesco for giving permission for the work to take place on their land, and to Network Rail for agreeing to do it and pay for the work.

'This should make the bridge much nicer to use and hopefully look like an asset to the town. I will put some champagne on ice to celebrate when it is finished.

For further information, contact Malcolm Cowan 0n 324723.