At Last! Progress on Wilson's Bridge
The bridge has been closed since 2008, for safety reasons, and the R A (both the Bolton Group and Area President Andrew Bennett) has lobbied Councillors and MPs over a number of years in the hope of restoring the link across the river. The complexity and cost of the operation have made the process a slow one, but the end is in sight. A Planning Application (89779/13) has finally been submitted by United Utilities for replacing Wilson's Bridge and restoring access between the footpaths east and west of the River Croal.
It is hoped that work will start in August 2013 and the work will be completed by May 2014. Various alternatives have been considered, but in the end a replacement bridge similar in appearance to the existing one and in the same place seems the best option. Four alternative locations were considered but the present site is the best. The bridge will stand on four reinforced concrete piles to be constructed on the river bank. Initially the work will have considerable impact in the valley. Access to the site will require the laying of approximately 8,300 tons of stone material as a haul road, and a 500 ton mobile crane will be needed to bring in the new bridge and take the old one away. There will be some interesting activities to watch in the Croal Irwell Valley during the next twelve months.
FANCY A BIT OF EXERCISE? - Come and join the Thursday Walkers.
We meet every Thursday at the Horwich Leisure Centre at 10.30. The walks are free and you don't need to book. Although we always start from the Horwich Leisure Centre, there are an amazing variety of possible walks. Where's Tigers Clough? What about Wilson Fold? Sometimes we head for Rivington to reach the Pike or Two Lads. Have you been to Wilderswood since a lot of the trees had to be removed? We usually walk between 3 and 4 miles and aim to be back by 12.30 or just after.
However on the first and fourth Thursdays, there is now a longer walk taken at a faster pace and on the third Thursday of the month we still meet at the Leisure Centre but share cars to take us a bit further afield. We have been to Leadmines Clough, Borsdane Wood and Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Blackrod. In the near future we hope get as far as Worthington Lakes and up to Burnt Edge.
For further information visit www.ramblers.org.uk/walksfinder or www.boltonramblers.org.uk or ring 01204 692458.