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Lucy’s Mill Footbridge: Can We Improve It?. Outline of Presentation. Historical background -- 1590 to 1934 20 th Century replacement bridge Footbridge characteristics Footbridge usage Alternative crossing points The way forward Proposed feasibility study Next steps - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Lucy’s Mill Footbridge: Can We Improve It?
Historical background -- 1590 to 193420th Century replacement bridgeFootbridge characteristicsFootbridge usageAlternative crossing pointsThe way forwardProposed feasibility studyNext stepsMost important -- what do you think and what
are your priorities?
Outline of Presentation
Wooden footbridge with six piers originally built in 1590, paid for by voluntary donations
Adopted by Corporation in 1618 which became responsible for upkeep
Extensive repairs in 1812 and 1827, plus passage widened for barges
Floods in 1867 destroyed 2 piers and bridge had to be completely re-built
Historical Background
1867 Floods Destroyed 2 of the Piers
1867 Bridge Completely Re-built
The Bridge in 1907
In 1934 the rather handsome wooden bridge was replaced by the current reinforced concrete bridge
Designed in Art Deco style to match Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in 1932
Reinforced concrete fashionable in the 1930sHowever, bridge now nearly 80 years old and
showing its ageHave reached the stage where some form of
upgrading or replacement is desirable
20th Century Replacement
Bridge in 2008: Familiar Sight
Access to current bridge is by way of steep, narrow steps at either end
This causes potentially dangerous conflicts when users going in opposite directions attempt to pass each other on the steps
Bridge width and parapet height are considered sub-standard
Unsuitable link into National Cycle Network
Footbridge Characteristics
Usage studied in 2009 over 2-day periodSaturday 8.00 to 19.30 -- 1,128 crossed the bridgeWednesday 8.00 to 16.30 -- 525 crossed the bridgeUsers included:
258 cyclists (carrying cycles)49 baby pushchairs (lifted over bridge)8 wheelchairs lifted across bridge31 users used walking sticks or other mobility aids
927 people surveyed (out of 1,653 total) signed petition asking for bridge to be improved/replaced
Footbridge Usage
Potentially Dangerous Incidents
Seven Meadows Road bridge has no facilities for pedestrians (e.g., footpaths)
Main pedestrian river crossing is Tramway Bridge alongside Clopton Bridge
Also a Chain Ferry near RST which carries about 50-100 passengers per day on weekdays and 250-300 on weekends
No other suitable crossing points within easy reach
Alternative Crossing Points
Initial consultant report by Sustrans (charity encouraging walking & cycling) thinks bridge could be adapted to make it suitable for all users
Ramps and other civil works must fit within land & right-of-way currently owned by WCC & SDC
Compulsory purchase of additional land close to bridge is neither desirable nor feasible
Way forward could be to commission full feasibility study to test whether current bridge can be made fully compliant with current building standards on footprint of land owned by WCC & SDC
The Way Forward
Land ownership boundary has already been established
Feasibility study needs to answer two questions:Can existing bridge be adapted/modified to meet
current building standards within the foot print of land currently owned by WCC/SDC?
If not, could a new fully compliant bridge be constructed on the same site within the same footprint of land?
The upgraded/new footbridge must be able to accommodate cyclists & form part of the town’s existing network of walking/cycling routes
Proposed Feasibility Study
Establish whether there is widespread support for improving the footbridge
If yes, form an association – Friends of Lucy’s Mill Bridge – which can approve a constitution
Elect a committee to manage FoLMBApply for charity status, open a bank
account and raise funds to pay for the feasibility study
Next Steps
Do you support improving the footbridge?Should we set up an organisation – Friends
of Lucy’s Mill Bridge – to try and achieve this?
Do you approve/have views on the draft constitution (copies available)?
Would you be willing to join FoLMB?Are you willing to help with fund raising?
What do you think and what are your Priorities??
Old photographs courtesy of the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive
Survey and photographs of current usage courtesy of Stratford Voice
Chain Ferry figures courtesy of the Chain Ferry operator
Credits
Questions of clarification or general comments
Do you support improving the footbridge?
Should we form FoLMB?
Do you accept/have views on the draft constitution?
Are you willing to join FoLMB?
Are you willing to be invited to join the Management
Committee?
Should we go ahead and fund raise for a feasibility
study?
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