The bridge is still scheduled to close on 9th January but the plan is for the work that involves the road closure to be completed by 16th March. This period also includes some contingency time so that there is a possibility that it could open even sooner.
A temporary car park will be established for 50 cars on the North side of the bridge and the old cattle market will be repaired and marked out for parking on the south side. The charge in the MHDC Teme Street car park will be reduced to 10p for up to 2 hours.
Landrover are sponsoring an additional 4x4 vehicle so that Police will have additional cover and all the Police Officers radios now contain trackers so that the control room can task the nearest officer to any incident. Police numbers will also be maintained at normal operation levels for the duration and any absences will be back-filled by officers from other areas.
Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Services will maintain two appliances at the Burford Station and an additional appliance will be based at the Bromyard Road Business Park. Additional appliances will be tasked from Bromyard & Leominster automatically for all calls rather than the current system of calling them in if required.
Ambulance cover will remain the same with vehicles being tasked from Leominster, Bromyard, Ludlow & Kidderminster. The destination hospital may vary depending on where the patient lives.
A temporary shuttle bus will run from Bromyard Road Business Park to Lloyds Bank and back. There is an ongoing discussion about providing a bus from the North end of the bridge to the hospital, but this hasn't been finalised.
The main signed diversion routes will be via main roads. The smaller "local" diversion routes will have a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes (except for access). All these routes will be treated (gritted) should the need arise.
Posts
5 comments:
The shortening of the closure period is very, very good news. I did get the impression (at the meeting) that WCC are taking very seriously the concerns of residents and businesses. Major disruption is unavoidable - but at least there will now be less of it.
"There is an ongoing discussion about providing a bus from the North end of the bridge to the hospital, but this hasn't been finalised." I could not really understand the point that was being made by the lady who asked the question about this. If she had previously gone to the hospital by car, she will still be able to do so (albeit via a rather more lengthy drive). If she had previously used the bus, she will be able to continue to do so - but will have to cross the bridge on foot. If she cannot walk across the bridge, how did he walk to the bus?
The anticipated shortened working period is to be welcomed and we're glad that WCC have clearly given the broad range of concerns raised at the last meet some time and consideration.
All we spoke to at the meet last night thought that it would mean that any associated issues such as accidents on back roads or examples of the elderly being hindered in receiving or getting access to care/facilities will be very much under the microscope though from many in the community.
I think quite a few people catch the bus from the regal to the hospital. (If they use their bus pass, MHDC were charged the full fare to Worcester - but that is another matter altogether) Obviously they will now need to walk the additional distance to the North side of the Bridge, which for some is difficult.
Point taken and accepted . . . So far as the bus pass/subsidy is concerned, it is difficult to imagine a more un-audited racket! I'd love to know how much the operators are claiming as opposed to how much they are entitled to. It must be costing the tax payer an unnecessarily large sum of money. I did raise the matter with a local Councillor but he thought it was a problem too difficult to be remedied. I'm sure his attitude would have been different if it had involved his personal money rather our taxes.
Post a Comment